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what are some common examples of exponential functions

by Dr. Nya Welch Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Some examples of exponential functions are:

  • f (x) = 2 x+3
  • f (x) = 2 x
  • f (x) = 3e 2x
  • f (x) = (1/ 2) x = 2 -x
  • f (x) = 0.5 x

An example of an exponential function is the growth of bacteria. Some bacteria double every hour. If you start with 1 bacterium and it doubles every hour, you will have 2x bacteria after x hours. This can be written as f(x) = 2x.

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How do you write an exponential function?

Part 2 Part 2 of 2: Using "e" as the base

  1. Understand what e is. When you use the value e as the base, you are using the "natural base." Using the natural base allows you to pull the continuous ...
  2. Consider an example. Suppose a 500 gram sample of an isotope of Carbon has a half life of 50 years (the half life is the amount of time for ...
  3. Know the basic form. ...
  4. Plug in the initial value. ...

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What are the different types of exponential functions?

Exponential functions of the form f(x) = b x appear in different contexts, including finance and radioactive decay. The base b must be a positive number and cannot be 1. The graphs of these functions are curves that increase (from left to right) if b > 1, showing exponential growth, and decrease if 0 < b < 1, showing exponential decay.

What is the standard form of an exponential function?

  • am an = am+n
  • a m a n = a m − n
  • (am)n = amn
  • ambm= (ab)m
  • ( a b) m = a m b m
  • a0 equals 1
  • a − m = 1 a m

How to find the value of an exponential function?

How to Solve for the Original Amount of an Exponential Function

  1. Use Order of Operations to simplify. a (1 +.08) 6 = 120,000 a (1.08) 6 = 120,000 (Parenthesis) a (1.586874323) = 120,000 (Exponent)
  2. Solve by Dividing a (1.586874323) = 120,000 a (1.586874323)/ (1.586874323) = 120,000/ (1.586874323) 1 a = 75,620.35523 a = 75,620.35523 The original amount, or the amount that your family ...
  3. Freeze -you're not done yet. ...

What are some examples of exponential functions?

The examples of exponential functions are:f(x) = 2. xf(x) = 1/ 2x = 2. -xf(x) = 2. x+3f(x) = 0.5. x

What are the 3 most common applications of exponential functions?

There are important applications of exponential functions in everyday life. The most important applications are related to population growth, exponential decline, and compound interest.

What are the 4 types of exponential functions?

Alternative Forms for Exponential Growth and DecayForm 1: Base Greater than 1.Form 2: Growth or Decay by Given Factor in Given Time.Form 3: The Time Constant Form.Form 4: The Rate Form.

What is a real life example of exponential?

Exponential Function Real-Life Examples Exponential growth of bacteria is an exponential model that increases at a constant percent. If, for example, a population of 50 bacteria cells doubles in size every hour, that is exponential growth.

What are two most common applications of exponential functions?

Three of the most common applications of exponential and logarithmic functions have to do with interest earned on an investment, population growth, and carbon dating.

What are the common application of exponential functions equations and equalities to real life situations?

Exponential functions are used to model populations, carbon date artifacts, help coroners determine time of death, compute investments, as well as many other applications. We will discuss in this lesson three of the most common applications: population growth, exponential decay, and compound interest.

How do you know if it is an exponential function?

In an exponential function, the independent variable, or x-value, is the exponent, while the base is a constant. For example, y = 2x would be an exponential function.

What is a exponential function in your own words?

In mathematics, the exponential function is the function e, where e is the number such that the function e is its own derivative. The exponential function is used to model a relationship in which a constant change in the independent variable gives the same proportional change in the dependent variable.

What is exponential function equation?

The exponential function. The exponential function f(x)=bkx for base b>0 and constant k is plotted in green. You can change the parameters b and k by typing new values in the corresponding boxes.

How are exponents used in everyday life?

Another example of using exponents in real life is when you calculate the area of any square. If you say "My room is twelve foot by twelve foot square", you're meaning your room is 12 feet × 12 feet — 12 feet multiplied by itself — which can be written as (12 ft)2. And that simplifies to 144 square feet.

Where do you see exponential growth in everyday life?

One of the best examples of exponential growth in real life can be seen by looking at the multiplication of bacteria in a culture. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

What are some common examples of exponential functions?

Common examples of exponential functions are functions that have a base number greater than one and an exponent that is a variable. One such examp...

What is a negative exponential function?

A negative exponential function is an exponential function that reflects over the x axis or the y axis. If the function is negative, the graph wil...

How do you graph exponential functions with transformations?

To graph exponential functions with transformations, graph the asymptote first. This can be found by looking at what has been added or subtracted...

What are the transformations of exponential functions?

Exponential functions can transform horizontally, vertcially, and reflect. Addition and subtraction transform the graph horizontally and verticall...

How do you write an exponential function?

You write an exponential function with a base number greater than one. An exponential function must also have a variable as the exponent.

What is an exponential model?

An exponential model has a distinctive upward or downward curve that increases (or decreases) sharply and smoothly. If the curve decreases, it’s called exponential decay; If the curve increases, then it’s exponential growth.

What is the most common natural example of exponential decay?

In contrast, as the population shrinks in size, the rate of decay becomes slower. Radioactivity is the most common natural example of exponential decay. Over time, an unstable atom will eject particles from its nucleus. As these particles discharge, less radioactive material remains.

What is the nth root of a function?

Nth root functions are the inverse functions of exponential functions x n. In simple terms, it does the opposite, or “undoes” the exponential. For example, if x = 2, the exponential function 2 x would result in 2 2 = 4. The nth root (in this case, the cube root, √) takes the output (4), and gives the original input: √ (4) = 2.

What is the common ratio of an exponential sequence?

All exponential sequences are geometric sequences, with a common ratio equal to the base of the exponent (Pike, 2021). A geometric sequence is a list of terms, where the next term is obtained by multiplying by the same amount (a common ratio) to get the next term.

What is the base number of an exponential function?

The base number in an exponential function will always be a positive number other than 1. The first step will always be to evaluate an exponential function. In other words, insert the equation’s given values for variable x and then simplify.

Is exponential change proportional to population size?

The differential equation states that exponential change in a population is directly proportional to its size . Initially, the small population (3 in the above graph) is growing at a relatively slow rate. However, as the population grows, the growth rate increases rapidly.

Is the nth root a continuous function?

The nth root function is a continuous function if n is odd. If n is even, the function is continuous for every number ≥ 0. Note though, that if n is even and x is negative, then the result is a complex number.

What is an Exponential Function?

Exponential functions are equations with a base number (greater than one) and a variable, usually {eq}x {/eq}, as the exponent. Here is an example of an exponential function: {eq}y=2^x {/eq}. The base number is {eq}2 {/eq} and the {eq}x {/eq} is the exponent.

Transformations of Exponential Functions

You have already seen one transformation of exponential functions, reflections. In this section, you will see translations. Translations move graphs up, down, left, or right. For all examples, compare to the parent function {eq}y=2^x {/eq}.

Exponential Graphs

To graph exponential functions, start by graphing the horizontal asymptote and the y-intercept. The horizontal asymptote is always {eq}y=0 {/eq} unless a numbers has been added or subtracted from the function such as in {eq}y=2^x-3 {/eq}. This addition or subtraction tells you the location of the horizontal asymptote.

1. Population growth

In some cases, scientists start with a certain number of bacteria or animals and watch their population change. For example, if the population is doubling every 7 days, this can be modeled by an exponential function.

2. Exponential decay

Similar to how it is possible for one variable to grow exponentially as a function of another, it is also possible for the variable to decrease exponentially. Consider the decline of a population that occurs at a rate proportional to its value.

3. Compound interest

Compound interest is an application of exponential functions that is commonly found in our day to day life. Interest is generally a fee charged for borrowing money. There are two types of interest: simple and compound.

See also

Interested in learning more about applications of functions? Take a look at these pages:

What are some examples of exponential functions?

Similarly one may ask, what are some common examples of exponential functions? An example of an exponential function is the growth of bacteria. Some bacteria double every hour. If you start with 1 bacterium and it doubles every hour, you will have 2x bacteria after x hours. This can be written as f (x) = 2x. One may also ask, what are some real ...

Why are exponential functions useful?

Exponential functions are used to model populations, carbon date artifacts, help coroners determine time of death, compute investments, as well as many other applications. Click to see full answer.

1. Spread of Virus

The spread of a virus generally follows exponential growth. This can best be observed by looking at the spread of a viral disease. The virus causing the disease gets transferred from the carrier person to the people and objects that he/she come in contact with, thereby increasing the number of people infected by it.

2. Finance

One of the best examples of exponential growth can be found in the finance domain. For instance, a saving account that is applied with an annual compound interest tends to give exponential returns to the account holder. This helps the owner obtain a large amount of capital even with a small investment.

3. Nuclear Chain Reactions

A number of chemical reactions undergo exponential growth. For instance, when the nucleus of a uranium atom gets bombarded by neutrons externally, each nucleus gets broken into two congruent parts. This reaction is highly exothermic and releases a huge amount of heat into the environment.

4. Pyramid Schemes

Pyramid marketing schemes are also known as Ponzi schemes. They comprise a business model that involves recruiting members that are paid on the basis of the number of members they further enrol. Every enrolled member tends to recruit new members under their vigilance. This multiplies the number of members in the organization at every step.

5. Bacterial Growth

One of the best examples of exponential growth in real life can be seen by looking at the multiplication of bacteria in a culture. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

6. Circulation of Data on the Internet

The internet provides a wide space to share information. The circulation of data on the internet is typically exponential in nature as the data gets passed on from one person to the other, the recipients of the content further pass on the information to multiple users, and the process goes on and on.

8. Human Population

The concept of exponential growth can be best understood by observing the growth of the human population. According to the recent survey conducted in the year 2019, the world’s population had reached 7,673,533,974, and it is growing exponentially at a fast rate.

Summary of Exponential Functions

  • The following examples use some of the applications of exponential functions. Each example has its respective solution that can be useful to understand the process and reasoning used. Start now: Explore our additional Mathematics resources → Exponential Equations Calculator
See more on mechamath.com

Examples with Answers of Exponential Function Problems

Exponential Function Problems – Practice Problems

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