2.4.4 Journal: Exponential vs.
Quadratic Journal
Mathematics III Sem 2 Name: Micaela Moro
Date: 6/25/2025
Scenario: Bacterial Growth
Instructions:
● View the video found on page 1 of this journal activity.
● Using the information provided in the video, answer the questions below.
● Show your work for all calculations.
1. Conjectures (3 points: 1 point each)
a. What conjecture is being made?
The conjecture is that the relationship between the number of bacteria and the time
might be either quadratic or exponential. Teresa thinks it's quadratic, while Serena
believes it's exponential, and they need help determining the correct relationship.
b. What key details are given?
The key details are that Teresa and Serena are measuring bacteria growth, with data
showing the number of bacteria at different hours. Teresa thinks the relationship is
quadratic, while Serena thinks it's exponential, and they need help determining the
correct type of relationship.
c. What is your plan of action?
Examine the data: Look at how the number of bacteria changes over time.
Check for exponential growth: See if the bacteria count doubles (or increases by a
constant factor) each hour.
Check for quadratic growth: See if the second differences between the bacteria
counts are constant (a characteristic of quadratic relationships).
Make a conclusion: Based on the results, identify if the relationship is exponential or
quadratic.
2. The raw data (5 points)
Here are the data collected over 6 hours of bacterial growth:
Hour Number of bacteria
0 3
1 6
2 12
3 24
4 48
5 96
6 192
a. Graph these data: (2 points: 1 point for layout; 1 point for the curve) Draw the
axes. Label each axis with numbers and its title. You may use different scales on
each axis. Connect the points with a smooth curve.
b. Do you think your graph looks more like a quadratic or exponential function? Why
do you think so? (1 point)
The graph looks more like an exponential function because the bacteria count
roughly doubles each hour, which is characteristic of exponential growth.
c. Here are some specific questions to consider when examining this graph: (2
points)
● What is the y-intercept of the curve?
The y-intercept of the curve is (0, 3), where the number of bacteria is 3 at Hour 0.
● Is there a clear pattern of increase or decrease from point to point? If so, what is
it?
Yes, there is a clear pattern of increase from point to point. The number of
bacteria approximately doubles each hour, showing exponential growth.
● What is the domain of the curve?
The domain of the curve is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} based on the given data, or all non-
negative real numbers (x 0) if considering continuous growth.
● What is the range of the curve?
The range of the curve is {3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 95, 192} based on the data, or all
positive real numbers greater than or equal to 3 if considering continuous
growth.
● Are the values increasing or decreasing?
The values are increasing. The number of bacteria grows larger as the hours
progress.
3. Compare with a Quadratic Function (4 points)
a. Create a table for a typical quadratic function y = x2. Go up to at least x = 6 so it
matches the raw data table. (1 point)
x y
4
-2
1
-1
0
0
1
1
4
2
9
3
16
4
25
5
36
6
b. Graph the quadratic function. (1 point)
c. List all the following characteristics of quadratics. (2 points)
● What is the y-intercept of the graph?
The y-intercept of the graph y = x2 is (0, 0)
● Is there a clear pattern of increase from point to point? If so, what is it?
Yes, there is a clear pattern of increase. As x increases, y increases at an
accelerating rate due to the quadratic nature of the function.
● What is the domain of the function?
The domain of the quadratic function y = x2
is all real numbers because x can take any real value. So,
● What is the range of the function?
The range of the quadratic function y = x2 is all non-negative real numbers
because y is always greater than or equal to 0. As x increases or decreases, y = x2
never goes below 0.
Thus, the range is [0,)
● Is the function increasing or decreasing?
The function y= x2 is decreasing for x<0 and increasing for x>0, with a minimum
at x = 0.
● Anything else?
The quadratic function y = x2 is symmetric about the y-axis, has a vertex at (0, 0),
and forms a U-shaped parabola opening upwards.
4. Compare with an Exponential Function (4 points)
a. Create a table for a typical exponential function y = 2x. Go up to at least
x = 6 so it matches the raw data table. (1 point)
x y
0.25
-2
0.5
-1
1
0
2
1
4
2
8
3
16
4
32
5
64
6
b. Graph the exponential function. (1 point)
c. List all the following characteristics of exponentials. (2 points)
● What is the y-intercept of the graph?
The y-intercept is (0, 1).
● Is there a clear pattern of increase from point to point?
Yes, there is a clear pattern of increase. The value of y doubles as x increases by
1, showing exponential growth.
● What is the domain of the function?
The domain of the function y=2x is all real numbers (,).
● What is the range of the function?
The range is (0,).
● Anything else?
The exponential function y = 2x has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0 , is always
increasing, and grows rapidly as x increases. It is not symmetric.
5. Time to Make a Choice (2 points)
Do you think the bacterial growth data better match a quadratic or an exponential
function? Explain why.
The bacterial growth data better match an exponential function. This is because the
number of bacteria doubles approximately every hour, which is characteristic of
exponential growth. In contrast, a quadratic function would show a constant rate of
increase, which is not observed in the data. The rapid, accelerating growth of the
bacteria suggests an exponential relationship.
6. Extension: What is the life cycle of a real bacterial culture? (2 points) Take a look
at a sketch of data from a real bacterium, E. coli. This is what the number of live
bacteria looks like over time.
Compare this graph with the one you plotted in question 2. How are they alike? How
are they different? What do you think is happening to the bacteria to cause the curve
to look like this?
The real-life E. coli growth curve shows initial rapid increase, similar to exponential
growth, but eventually levels off and decreases due to factors like nutrient depletion
or waste accumulation. Unlike the continuous exponential growth in the initial data,
the curve reflects a more realistic biological pattern, where bacteria face limiting
factors that slow and then reduce their population, resulting in a logistic growth
curve.
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2.4.4 Journal: Exponential vs. Quadratic
