Exponential Functions

in Mathematical
Context
Lesson 1.3
Benchmarks: MA.912.AR.5.3, MA.912.AR.5.4, MA.912.AR.5.5.
MA.912.AR.5.6
 Exponential Function Defined
• An exponential function is a function of the form , where a ≠ 0, b > 0, and b ≠ 1.
• The base must be a constant, and the exponent is a variable.
• Exponential functions are nonlinear.
• While an exponential function does not have a constant rate of change like a
linear function does, it does have a common ratio.
• Thus, a data set can be modeled by an exponential function if, for equal
intervals of the independent variable, the dependent variable increases or
decreases by a common ratio.
• In other words, as the x-values increase, the y-values change by a common
percentage throughout the function.
• In an exponential function, , b represents the common ratio.
Key Concept: Exponential
Function
Words An exponential function can be described by an
equation of the form , where a ≠ 0, b > 0, and b ≠ 1.

Examples
 Linear vs Exponential
Linear Exponential

the rate of change the rate of change increases by

remains constant the same factor

Note that in the linear function, the rate of change remains constant. In the
exponential function, the rate of change increases by the same factor.
Growth and Decay

• Functions of the form , where a > 0 and b > 1, are called exponential
growth functions.
• Functions of the form , where a > 0 and 0 < b < 1, are called
exponential decay functions.
• The graphs of exponential functions have a horizontal asymptote.
• An asymptote is a line that a graph approaches.
Growth and Decay (continued)
Exponential Growth Functions Exponential Decay Functions
, a > 0, b > 1 , a > 0, 0 < b < 1
Graph
Example 1: Identifying growth or
decay
Determine whether each function represents exponential growth or
exponential decay. Then state the constant percent rate of change per
unit interval.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
 Example 1: Solutions
a. c.

Because 5 > 1, f(x) is an exponential Because h(x) is an exponential function.

growth function. The constant The constant percent rate of change per
percent rate of change per unit unit interval is or about 33.3%.
interval is 5 − 1 = 4 or 400%.
b.
Because g(x) is an exponential d.
function. The constant percent rate
Because 1.05 > 1, j(x) is an exponential
of change per unit interval is or
growth function. The constant percent rate
about 71.4%.
of change per unit interval is 1.05 − 1 = 0.05
or 5%.
 Example 2: Identifying the Common
Ratio
Determine whether the set of data can be modeled by an exponential function. Write
yes or no. Explain why or why not.
x −3 −2 −1 0
y 32 16 8 4
To determine whether a set can be modeled by an exponential function, find the
common ratio.
Ensure the domain values are changing by regular intervals. In this table, the x-values are
increasing by 1.
Divide each range by the one before it.
,,
This shows the data can be modeled by an exponential decay model because as x
increases by 1, the y-values decrease by a factor of .
Try it on your own
Determine whether the set of data can be modeled by an exponential
function. Write yes or no. Explain why or why not.
x 0 4 8 12
y 6 9 12 15

No; the domain values are at regular intervals but the range values to
not have a common factor. They have a common difference of 3.
Writing an Exponential Function
• Step 1 Determine whether there is a common ratio.
• Ensure/find the domain values changing by regular intervals.
• Divide each range by the one before it.
• Step 2 Write the function.
• Use the common ratio as the value of b in .
• Substitute any ordered pair from the table for x and y to find the
value of a.
• Substitute the values of a and b into to write the function.
 Example 3: Writing an Exponential
Function from a Table
Write an exponential function for the table.
x y
Step 1 Determine whether there is a common ratio.
1 6
2 12
3 24
4 48 Because the ratio is the same for each pair of
consecutive y-values, the function can be
modeled by an exponential growth function with
a common ratio of 2.
 Example 3: Continued Solution
Step 2 Write the function.
Use the common ratio as the value of b in . Then substitute any ordered pair from
the table for x and y to find the value of a.
General form of an exponential function
The common ratio is 2.
(x, y) = (1, 6)
Evaluate the exponent.
Divide each side by 2.
Substitute the values of a and b into to write the function.
Try it on your own
Write an exponential function for the table.
x y Step 1 Determine whether there is a common ratio.
0 10
1 5
2 2.5
3 1.25 Because the ratio is the same for each pair of
consecutive y-values, the function can be
modeled by an exponential decay function with a
common ratio of .
 Try it on your own: Continued
Solution
Step 2 Write the function.
Use the common ratio as the value of b in . Then substitute any ordered pair from
the table for x and y to find the value of a.
General form of an exponential function
The common ratio is 0.5.
(x, y) = (1, 5)
Evaluate the exponent.
Divide each side by 0.5.
Substitute the values of a and b into to write the function.
Example 4: Writing an Exponential
Function from a Graph
Write an exponential function for the graph.
Use the graph to complete the table of
values.
x y
0 8
1 4
2 2
3 1
 Example 4: Continued Solutions
Step 1 Determine whether there is a common ratio.

x y
0 8
Because the ratio is the same for each pair of 1 4
consecutive y-values, the function can be 2 2
modeled by an exponential function with a 3 1
common ratio of 0.5.
 Example 4: Continued Solutions
Step 2 Write the function.
Use the common ratio as the value of b in y = abx. Then substitute any
ordered pair from the graph or table for x and y to find the value of a.
General form of an exponential function
The common ratio is 0.5.
(x, y) = (0, 8)
Evaluate the exponent.

Substitute the values of a and b into y = to write the function.

Try it on your own
Write an exponential function for the graph.
Graphing Exponential Functions
Step 1: Make a table of values.
Step 2: Plot the points and sketch the graph.
• The domain of an exponential function will be all real numbers.
• or

• The range of an exponential function will not be able to go past the

horizontal asymptote.
• Look for the horizontal line that the exponential function flattens
out at.
• The range will have to be greater than or less then that y-value.
• The end behavior describes where the domain and range are going
towards.
 Example 5: Graphing an Exponential
Function
Graph . Find the domain, range, y-intercept, asymptote, and end
behavior.
Step 1: Make a table of values. Step 2: Plot the points and sketch the graph.
x
−3 0.125
−2 0.25
−1 0.5
0 1
1 2
2 4
3 8
Example 5: Continued Solutions

domain:
range:
y-intercept: (0, 1)
asymptote: y = 0
end behavior: As x → −∞, and as
 Try it on your own
Graph . Find the domain, range, y-intercept, asymptote, and end behavior.

x
−3 27
−2 9
−1 3
0 1
1
2
3
Try it on your own: Continued
Solutions
domain:
range:
y-intercept: (0, 1)
asymptote: y = 0
end behavior: As x → −∞,
and as
 Try it on your own
Graph . Find the domain, range, y-intercept, asymptote, and end behavior.

x
−3
−2
−1
0
1 1
2 7
3 25
 Try it on your own: Continued
Solutions
domain:
range:
y-intercept: (0, 1)
asymptote: y =
end behavior: As x → −∞,
and as
 Transformations
Let’s say we have the function .
How would the graph change if we added
2, ?
What about
What do you think might happen is we
subtract 1 in the exponent, ?
What about ?
What is we multiplied the whole thing by
3, ?
What about
 Transformations of Exponential
Functions
As we just saw, exponential functions can be transformed.
will equal some number based on the parent function (2 from the slide before).
• moves the function h units to the left
• moves the function h units to the right
• moves the function k units up
• moves the function k units down
• vertically stretches the function by a factor of a (if
• vertically compresses the function by a factor of a (if
• reflects the function over the axis
 Example 6: Describing
Transformations
Describe the transformations from the parent function in the following
functions.
a)
The function is reflected across the x-axes, vertically compressed by a factor
of and shifted up 4 units.
b)
The function is shifted 2 units to the right and 5 units down.
c)
The function is vertically stretched by a factor of 4, shifted 1 unit to the left,
and 7 units down.
 Try it on your own
Describe the transformation from the parent function and graph (To graph,
you just need to create a table and plot the points.)

x The function is reflected across the x-axis, vertically stretched

1 by a factor of 5, shifted 2 units to the right, and shifted 3
0 units up.
1 Since it was shifted 2 units right, we can start at (2 units
2 right of )
3 1.75
4 2.688
5 2.923
 Try it on your own: Continued
Solutions
State the domain, range, y-intercept,
asymptote, and end behavior.
domain:
range:
y-intercept: (0, )
asymptote: y =
end behavior: As x → −∞,
and as