Unit

4 Exponential Functions







Date:
4.5 Properties of Exponential Functions & 4.1 Investigating Growth and Decay
Homework: Complete Handout & Page 243: Question # 1&2



Learning Objectives/Success Criteria: At the end of this lesson I will be able to:
Identify linear, quadratic and exponential functions from their graphs and equations
Describe basic properties of exponential functions including: domain, range, horizontal asymptote,
y-intercept, effect of b
Comparing Linear, Quadratic and Exponential Functions

1. Complete the following table for each function. Use additional values for x if you wish.
a) Circle the greatest y-value in each row in your table
y = 2x
x
y = x 2
y = 2x

0



b) Is there any x-value for which all three y-values are the
1



same? If so, which value?
2




4




5




10




20

c) Which function seems to represent the slowest growth?

Why?

d) Which function seems to represent the fastest growth? Is
this true for all x-values?





2. Complete the table of values for each of the following.
y = 2x
y = x 2
y = 2x
x
y
F.D.
x
y
F.D.
x
y
F.D.
0


0


0


1


1


1


2


2


2


3


3


3


4


4


4


5


5


5



a) What does the first differences (F.D.) column indicate about y = x 2 and y = 2x ? Is there a constant rate
of change for either?
b) Describe the sequence formed by the first differences for y = x 2 . Explain.
c) Describe the sequence formed by the first differences for y = 2x . Explain.

Properties of Exponential Functions

A basic exponential function is of the form y = a(bx ) , where:

a is the initial value (for word problems) or the y-intercept (when b0 = 1 )

bx is the rate of increase or decrease

1. Graph the following exponential functions: y = 2x , y = 3x and y = 5x
Complete the table of values:
x
-4
-3
-2
-1
0

y = 2x

y = 3x

y = 5x

2. Plot each set of points on the same axes and draw the 3 curves.
a) What is is the value of the y-intercept for each function?
b) What happens to the y-values in each function as the value of x increases?
c) Which function rises faster?
d) What happens to the value of y in each function as the value of x decreases?
e) Which function decreases faster?
f) Write a brief note about the x-intercepts.
g) Write the domain and range for each function.

x
x
x
!1$
!1$
!1$
3. Graph the following exponential functions: y = # & , y = # & and y = # &
" 2%
"3%
"5%
Complete the table of values:
x
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
x







!1$
y = # &
" 2%
x







!1$
y = # &
"3%
x







!1$
y = # &
"5%

4. Plot each set of points on the same axes and draw the 3 curves.
a) What is is the value of the y-intercept for each function?
b) What happens to the y-values in each function as the value of x increases?
c) Which function rises faster?
d) What happens to the value of y in each function as the value of x decreases?
e) Which function decreases faster?
f) Write a brief note about the x-intercepts.
g) Write the domain and range for each function.