Pre-Calculus 12A Section 7.
Characteristics of Exponential Functions
Exponential function: A function of the form y = c x , where c is a constant (c > 0) and x is a variable.
• If c > 1, then the function is increasing
• If 0 < c < 1, then the function is decreasing
• If c = 1, then the function is neither increasing nor decreasing
Example 1: Analyze the Graph of an Exponential Function
Graph each exponential function. Then identify the following:
• the domain and range
• the x-intercept and y-intercept, if they exist
• whether the graph represents an increasing or decreasing function
• the equation of the horizontal asymptote
x
1
a. y = 2x b. f (x ) =
4
Solution:
a. y = 2x
x y
–3
–2
–1
0
1
2
3
4
Domain: _________________________ Range: _________________________
x-intercept: _______________ y-intercept: _______________
Is the function increasing or decreasing?: _________________________
Note: Exponential functions of the form y =c x, where c > 1, can be used to model exponential growth.
Equation of the horizontal asymptote *: _______________ *As values of x get very small, the
graph approaches this line.
1
Pre-Calculus 12A Section 7.1
x
1
b. f (x ) =
4
x y
–2
–1
0
1
2
3
Domain: ________________________
Range: _________________________
x-intercept: _______________
y-intercept: _______________
Is the function increasing or decreasing?
______________________
Note: Exponential functions of the form y =cx, where 0 < c < 1, can be used to model exponential decay.
Equation of the horizontal asymptote: _______________
Example 2: Write the Exponential Function Given its Graph
What function of the form y = c x can be used to describe the graph shown?
Solution:
Look for a pattern in the ordered pairs from the graph.
x y
–1 1/3
0 1
1 3
2 9
3 27
Equation of the function: _________________________
Choose a point other than (0, 1) to substitute into the
equation to verify that the function is correct:
2
Pre-Calculus 12A Section 7.1
Example 3: Application of an Exponential Function
A radioactive sample of radium (Ra-225) has a half-life of 15 days. The mass, m, in grams, of Ra-225 remaining
over time, t, in 15-day intervals, can be modeled using the exponential graph shown.
Half-life: The length of time for an unstable element to spontaneously decay to one half its original mass
Mass of Ra-225 remaining
Time (15-day intervals)
a. What is the initial mass of Ra-225 in the sample? _______________
b. What value does the remaining mass of Ra-225 approach as time passes? _______________
c. State the domain and range of this function.
Domain: ______________________________
Range: ______________________________
d. Write an equation that models the exponential decay of this mass of Ra-225, where m = mass and
t = time, in 15-day intervals.
e. What will the mass be after 75 days?
f. How many days it will it take for Ra-225 to decay to 1/16 of its original mass?
