EXPONENTIAL

FUNCTIONS
FEBRUARY 24, 2014
OBJECTIVES
Explore patterns of exponential models in tables, graphs, and symbolic
forms.
Write and evaluate exponential expressions to model growth and decay
situations.
Make tables of values and graph the information.
WHAT IS A FUNCTION?
A function is a relation for which each value
from the set the first components of the ordered
pairs is associated with exactly one value from
the set of second components of the ordered
pair.
IS THIS A FUNCTION?
Exponential
functions are
functions
which can be
represented
by graphs
similar to
this one.

ALL base exponential functions are similar
because they all go through the point (0,1)
regardless of the size of their base number.
Exponential Functions are written
in the form:
y = ab
x
a= y-intercept, b = base , x = variable
a is our y-intercept
initial value (value when x = 0)
affects steepness (a > 1 is steeper, 0 < a < 1 is less
steep)
if a is negative, flips over x-axis

b is our base
when b > 1, grows more rapidly
0 < b < 1, exponential decay
will always be positive
Yellow = 4
x
Green = 3.5
x

Black = 3
x
Red = 2
x

As you could see in the graph, the
larger the base, the faster the
function increased.
If we place a negative sign in front
of the x, the graphs will be
reflected (flipped) across the y-
axis.
Yellow = 4
-x
Green = 3.5
-x

Black = 3
-x
Red = 2
-x
WHAT IF WE HAD (0.5)
X
Make a table of values and a graph for the
function.
x f(x)
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
0.125
0.25
0.5
1
2
4
8
Use two points to write an equation for the
function.
x -3 -2 -1 0
f(x) 8 4 2 1
SKETCH THE
GRAPH OF THE
FUNCTION.
x y
-2 1
-1 2
0 4
1 8
2 16
SKETCH THE
GRAPH OF THE
FUNCTION.
x y
-2 0.055
-1 0.166
0 0.5
1 1.5
2 4.5
WRITE THE
EQUATION FOR THE
GRAPH.
STAT, EDIT (enter known
points)
ZoomStat, GRAPH
Home
STAT, CALC, ExpReg,
Enter
Enter
WRITE THE
EQUATION FOR THE
GRAPH.
STAT, EDIT (enter known
points)
ZoomStat, GRAPH
Home
STAT, CALC, ExpReg,
Enter
Enter
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QUESTION
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