Consider the standard form of an exponential function: y=a(b)^x How does changing the base number (inside the parentheses) change your graph?

Question

Consider the standard form of an exponential function:


`y=a(b)^x`
How does changing the base number (inside the parentheses) change your graph?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Challenge 1

We have exponential decline if 0 b 1. As you move from left to right, the curve will get less steep.

If b is greater than 1, exponential growth is present, and the curve slopes upward from left to right.

Examples include exponential decline (y = 2(0.5)x) and exponential growth (y = 2(1.2)x).

Remember that b cannot be negative.

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Challenge 2

In the general template provided, enter x = 0.

y = a(b)^x

y = a(b)^0

y = a(1) (1)

y = a

When x = 0 is plugged in, the result is y = a.

The curve is therefore on the point (0,a). The y intercept appears here. It is the point when the curve veers off the y axis. The y intercept is altered if the value of "a" is altered.

Examples: