AP Precalculus Name __________________________

Assignment 2.5 Date __________________________

Exponential Function Data Modeling Period __________________________

• Textbook: 3.2 (45, 47); 3.5 (61, 63)

• AP Classroom: TQ 2.5

1. The three graphs represent the value of a $400 investment earning 5% interest over the course of 2 years.
Determine if the scenario represented by each graph represents interest compounded yearly, quarterly,
monthly, daily, or continuously. Justify each answer.

2. (GC) You place $120 in an account earning 1.8% interest.

a. Find models for the amount of money in the account if interest is compounded yearly, monthly, and
continuously.

b. Find the amount of money in the account after 10 years for each type of compounding. (Round your
answers to the hundredth place.)

3. (GC) The function W ( t ) = 250 + 1200et /24 models the total amount of waste stored in a landfill, where W is
the amount of waste, in tons, t years after 2012.

a. Use the average rate of change of W from 2016 to 2020 to estimate the amount of waste in the landfill in
2023. Is the approximation an underestimate or overestimate? Justify your answer.

b. Use the model to estimate the amount of waste in the landfill in 2023.

c. Use the model the estimate the year when the amount of waste reaches 3000 tons.

4. (GC) The amount of mold on an old slice of bread can be modeled by a continuous exponential function.
Initially, there are 3 grams of mold on the bread. Ten hours later, there are 4.75 grams of mold on the bread.

a. Find a model for the amount of mold M on the bread, in grams, at time t, in hours.

b. Find the time when there are 8 grams of mold on the bread.
5. (GC) The relationship between atmospheric pressure and height above sea level can be modeled by a
continuous exponential function. The pressure exerted on at object at sea level is 101,325 Pascals (Pa). At
5.2 km above sea level, the pressure exerted on the object is 54,290 Pa.

a. Find a model for the atmospheric pressure P on the object, in Pa, at height h, in km, above sea level.

b. (i) Find lim P ( h ) . (ii) Interpret the result in context.

h →

6. (GC) The amount of Ibuprofen remaining in a person’s body over time since intake can be modeled using an
exponential function. The amount of Ibuprofen, in mg, remaining in Dr. Stockton’s body at various times, in
hours since taking the medicine are given in the table.

t (in hr) 0.5 1.8 3.2 4.1 5.0

I (in mg) 335.6 215.7 131.1 99.8 75.3

a. Use the average rate of change of I on the interval  0.5, 3.2 to estimate the amount of Ibuprofen in Dr.
Stockton’s body 2 hours after ingestion. Is the approximation an underestimate or overestimate? Justify
your answer.

b. Use exponential regression to find a function to model the amount of Ibuprofen I, in mg, remaining in Dr.
Stockton’s body at time t, in hours since taking the medicine.

c. (i) Use the model to find I ( 2.5) . (ii) Interpret the result in context.

d. Use the model to find the time when the amount of Ibuprofen in Dr. Stockton’s is approximately half of
the amount initially ingested.

e. (i) Find lim I ( t ) . (ii) Interpret the result in context.

t →

7. (GC) The population of seals in Bandon, Oregon can be modeled using an exponential function. A biologist
began a longitudinal study in 1985 and recorded the number of seals in Bandon for various years in the table.

Year 1985 1988 1990 1993 1997 2001

Number of Seals 312 347 372 408 475 538

a. Use exponential regression to find a function to model the number of seals S in Bandon, Oregon at time t,
in years since 1985.

b. (i) Use the model to find S ( 5.5 ) . (ii) Interpret the result in context.

c. Use the model to find the time when the population of seals will double from the initial amount.

d. (i) Find lim S ( t ) . (ii) Interpret the result in context. (iii) Is this a reasonable result? Justify your answer.
t →
APP Assignment 2.5 Answers
• Textbook: All problems are odd, so answers can be found in the back of the book.
• AP Classroom: Once Topic Questions are submitted, answers with feedback will be provided.

1. a. Quarterly; there are 8 payments made over the course of 2 years, which is 4 payments per year

b. Continuously; the graph is continuous, indicating that interest is earned instantaneously

c. Monthly; there are 24 payments made over the course of 2 years, which is 12 payments per year

2. a. Yearly: P ( t ) = 120 (1.018) ; Monthly: P ( t ) = 120 (1.0015) ; Continuously: P ( t ) = 120e0.018t

t 12t

b. Yearly: $143.44; Monthly: $143.65; Continuously: $143.67

3. a. W ( t )  1667.632495 + 64.275604 ( t − 4 ) OR W ( t )  1924.734910 + 64.275604 ( t − 8) ;

W (11)  2117.561721 tons; Since W is concave up on its entire domain and t = 11 is outside the interval
 4, 8 , the approximation is an underestimate.
b. 2147.723273 tons c. t = 19.902704 years after 2012

4. a. M ( t ) = 3e0.045953t b. 21.344075 hrs

5. a. P ( h ) = 101,325e−0.119999t b. (i) lim P ( h ) = 0

h →

b. (ii) As height above sea level increases without bound, atmospheric pressure approaches 0 Pa.

6. a. I ( t )  335.6 − 75.740741( t − 0.5 ) OR I ( t )  131.1 − 75.740741( t − 3.2 ) ; I ( 4 )  221.988889 mg; Since I

is concave up on its entire domain and t = 2 is within the interval  0.5, 3.2 , the approximation is an
overestimate.

a. I ( t ) = 392.498124 ( 0.716258 ) b. (i) I ( 2.5) = 170.416224

t

b. (ii) There are approx. 170.416224 mg of Ibuprofen c. approx. 2.07706 hrs

in Dr. Stockton’s body 2.5 hours after medication.

d. (i) lim I ( t ) = 0 ; (ii) As time increases without bound, the amount of Ibuprofen in Dr. Stockton’s body
t →

approaches 0 mg.

7. a. S ( t ) = 312.631844 (1.034761) b. (i) S ( 5.5) = 377.271228

t

b. (ii) About halfway through the year 1990, there are c. t = 20.225717 years after 1985
approx. 377 seals in Bandon, Oregon.

d. (i) lim S ( t ) =  ; (ii) As time increases without bound, the number of seals in Bandon, Oregon increases
t →

without bound; (iii) No, there will be a carrying capacity based on available resources.