<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
  • Let b = 1. Then f ( x ) = 1 x = 1 for any value of x .

To evaluate an exponential function with the form f ( x ) = b x , we simply substitute x with the given value, and calculate the resulting power. For example:

Let f ( x ) = 2 x . What is f ( 3 ) ?

f ( x ) = 2 x f ( 3 ) = 2 3   Substitute  x = 3. = 8   Evaluate the power .

To evaluate an exponential function with a form other than the basic form, it is important to follow the order of operations. For example:

Let f ( x ) = 30 ( 2 ) x . What is f ( 3 ) ?

f ( x ) = 30 ( 2 ) x f ( 3 ) = 30 ( 2 ) 3 Substitute  x = 3. = 30 ( 8 )   Simplify the power first . = 240 Multiply .

Note that if the order of operations were not followed, the result would be incorrect:

f ( 3 ) = 30 ( 2 ) 3 60 3 = 216,000

Evaluating exponential functions

Let f ( x ) = 5 ( 3 ) x + 1 . Evaluate f ( 2 ) without using a calculator.

Follow the order of operations. Be sure to pay attention to the parentheses.

f ( x ) = 5 ( 3 ) x + 1 f ( 2 ) = 5 ( 3 ) 2 + 1 Substitute  x = 2. = 5 ( 3 ) 3 Add the exponents . = 5 ( 27 ) Simplify the power . = 135 Multiply .
Got questions? Get instant answers now!
Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Let f ( x ) = 8 ( 1.2 ) x 5 . Evaluate f ( 3 ) using a calculator. Round to four decimal places.

5.5556

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Defining exponential growth

Because the output of exponential functions increases very rapidly, the term “exponential growth” is often used in everyday language to describe anything that grows or increases rapidly. However, exponential growth can be defined more precisely in a mathematical sense. If the growth rate is proportional to the amount present, the function models exponential growth.

Exponential growth

A function that models exponential growth    grows by a rate proportional to the amount present. For any real number x and any positive real numbers a   and b such that b 1 , an exponential growth function has the form

  f ( x ) = a b x

where

  • a is the initial or starting value of the function.
  • b is the growth factor or growth multiplier per unit x .

In more general terms, we have an exponential function , in which a constant base is raised to a variable exponent. To differentiate between linear and exponential functions, let’s consider two companies, A and B. Company A has 100 stores and expands by opening 50 new stores a year, so its growth can be represented by the function A ( x ) = 100 + 50 x . Company B has 100 stores and expands by increasing the number of stores by 50% each year, so its growth can be represented by the function B ( x ) = 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) x .

A few years of growth for these companies are illustrated in [link] .

Year, x Stores, Company A Stores, Company B
0 100 + 50 ( 0 ) = 100 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) 0 = 100
1 100 + 50 ( 1 ) = 150 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) 1 = 150
2 100 + 50 ( 2 ) = 200 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) 2 = 225
3 100 + 50 ( 3 ) = 250 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) 3 = 337.5
x A ( x ) = 100 + 50 x B ( x ) = 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) x

The graphs comparing the number of stores for each company over a five-year period are shown in [link] . We can see that, with exponential growth, the number of stores increases much more rapidly than with linear growth.

Graph of Companies A and B’s functions, which values are found in the previous table.
The graph shows the numbers of stores Companies A and B opened over a five-year period.

Notice that the domain for both functions is [ 0 , ) , and the range for both functions is [ 100 , ) . After year 1, Company B always has more stores than Company A.

Now we will turn our attention to the function representing the number of stores for Company B, B ( x ) = 100 ( 1 + 0.5 ) x . In this exponential function, 100 represents the initial number of stores, 0.50 represents the growth rate, and 1 + 0.5 = 1.5 represents the growth factor. Generalizing further, we can write this function as B ( x ) = 100 ( 1.5 ) x , where 100 is the initial value, 1.5 is called the base , and x is called the exponent .

Questions & Answers

the diagram of the digestive system
Assiatu Reply
allimentary cannel
Ogenrwot
How does twins formed
William Reply
They formed in two ways first when one sperm and one egg are splited by mitosis or two sperm and two eggs join together
Oluwatobi
what is genetics
Josephine Reply
Genetics is the study of heredity
Misack
how does twins formed?
Misack
What is manual
Hassan Reply
discuss biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles
Joseph Reply
what is biology
Yousuf Reply
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environments
AI-Robot
the study of living organisms and their interactions with one another and their environment.
Wine
discuss the biological phenomenon and provide pieces of evidence to show that it was responsible for the formation of eukaryotic organelles in an essay form
Joseph Reply
what is the blood cells
Shaker Reply
list any five characteristics of the blood cells
Shaker
lack electricity and its more savely than electronic microscope because its naturally by using of light
Abdullahi Reply
advantage of electronic microscope is easily and clearly while disadvantage is dangerous because its electronic. advantage of light microscope is savely and naturally by sun while disadvantage is not easily,means its not sharp and not clear
Abdullahi
cell theory state that every organisms composed of one or more cell,cell is the basic unit of life
Abdullahi
is like gone fail us
DENG
cells is the basic structure and functions of all living things
Ramadan
What is classification
ISCONT Reply
is organisms that are similar into groups called tara
Yamosa
in what situation (s) would be the use of a scanning electron microscope be ideal and why?
Kenna Reply
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is ideal for situations requiring high-resolution imaging of surfaces. It is commonly used in materials science, biology, and geology to examine the topography and composition of samples at a nanoscale level. SEM is particularly useful for studying fine details,
Hilary
cell is the building block of life.
Condoleezza Reply
what is cell divisoin?
Aron Reply
Diversity of living thing
ISCONT
what is cell division
Aron Reply
Cell division is the process by which a single cell divides into two or more daughter cells. It is a fundamental process in all living organisms and is essential for growth, development, and reproduction. Cell division can occur through either mitosis or meiosis.
AI-Robot
What is life?
Allison Reply
life is defined as any system capable of performing functions such as eating, metabolizing,excreting,breathing,moving,Growing,reproducing,and responding to external stimuli.
Mohamed
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply
Practice Key Terms 4

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Algebra and trigonometry' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask