6-1

GRAPHING
EXPONENTIAL
FUNCTIONS
Lesson Menu
Five-Minute Check (over Chapter 5)
Mathematical Practices
Then/Now
New Vocabulary
Key Concept: Parent Function of Exponential Growth Functions
Example 1: Graph Exponential Growth Functions
Key Concept: Transformations of Exponential Functions
Example 2: Graph Transformations
Example 3: Real-World Example: Graph Exponential Growth Functi
ons
Key Concept: Parent Function of Exponential Decay Functions
Example 4: Graph Exponential Decay Functions
 Over Chapter 5

Find (f + g)(x) if f(x) = 3x + 7 and g(x) = x2 – 10.

A. (f + g)(x) = 3x2 – 70

B. (f + g)(x) = x2 + 3x – 3

C. (f + g)(x) = x2 – 3x + 17

D. (f + g)(x) = 3x – 3
 Over Chapter 5

Determine whether f(x) = 4x – 9 and g(x) =

are inverse functions.

A. yes

B. no
x 2 3

Over Chapter 5

Identify the domain and range of the function x 2 3

A. D = {x | x ≥ –2}; R = {f(x) | f(x) ≥ 0}

B. D = {x | x ≥ –2}; R = {f(x) | f(x) ≥ –3}

C. D = {x | x ≥ –2}; R = {f(x) | f(x) ≥ 3}

D. D = {x | x ≥ 2}; R = {f(x) | f(x) ≥ 3}

 Over Chapter 5

Given f(x) = 4x + 3 and g(x) = x2 – 1, find [f ○ g](x).

A. [f ○ g](x) = 4x2 – 1

B. [f ○ g](x) = 4x2 + 2

C. [f ○ g](x) = x2 + 4x + 2

D. [f ○ g](x) = 16x2 +24x + 9

 Over Chapter 5

A. –7

B.

C. –2

D. 4
Mathematical Practices
2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

Content Standards
A.CED.2 Create equations in two or more variables to represent relationships
between quantities; graph equations on coordinate axes with labels and scales.
F.IF.4 For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret
key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs
showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship.
F.IF.7.e Graph exponential and logarithmic functions, showing intercepts and end
behavior, and trigonometric functions, showing period, midline, and amplitude.
F.IF.8.b Use the properties of exponents to interpret expressions for exponential
functions.
F.BF.3 Identify the effect on the graph of replacing f (x) by f (x) + k, k f (x), f (kx),
and f (x + k) for specific values of k (both positive and negative); find the value of
k given the graphs. Experiment with cases and illustrate an explanation of the
effects on the graph using technology. Include recognizing even and odd
functions from their graphs and algebraic expressions for them.
You graphed polynomial functions.

• Graph exponential growth functions.

• Graph exponential decay functions.
• exponential function
• exponential growth
• Asymptote: a straight line that continually
approaches a given curve but does not meet
it at any finite distance.
• growth factor
• exponential decay
• decay factor
An exponential function is a mathematical function, which
is used in many real-world situations. It is mainly used to
find the exponential decay or exponential growth or to
compute investments, model populations and so on.
Jonathan was reading a news article on the latest
research made on bacterial growth. He read that
an experiment was conducted with one
bacterium. After the first hour, the bacterium
doubled itself and was two in number. After the
second hour, the number was four. At every hour
the number of bacteria was increasing. He was
thinking what would be the number of bacteria
after 100 hours if this pattern continues. When he
asked his teacher about the same the answer he
got was the concept of an exponential function.
Let us learn more about exponential function
What is Exponential Function?
An exponential function is a Mathematical function in the form f (x) = a x,
where “x” is a variable and “a” is a constant which is called the base of the
function and it should be greater than 0. The most commonly used
exponential function base is the transcendental number e, which is
approximately equal to 2.71828.

Exponential Function Formula

An exponential function is defined by the formula f(x) = a x, where the input
variable x occurs as an exponent. The exponential curve depends on the
exponential function and it depends on the value of the x.
The exponential function is an important mathematical function which is of
the form
f(x) = ax
Where a>0 and a is not equal to 1.
x is any real number.
If the variable is negative, the function is undefined for -1 < x < 1.
Here,
“x” is a variable
“a” is a constant, which is the base of the function.
An exponential curve grows, or decay depends on the exponential function.
 A colony of bacteria in a petri dish might double in size
every six hours. Exponential growth generally starts slow
but, once it gets going, it grows very, very quickly.
The term "exponential growth" is often used informally in
conversation, the news, etc, to stand for "really, really fast"
growth, which may not actually have a doubling period.
Keep this distinction in mind: in math, there is a precise
definition; in common usage, the meaning is more fluid. So
if you hear somebody claiming that the world population is
doubling every thirty years, you know he is claiming
exponential growth.
An example of an
exponential function
is a person who starts
walking at a slow rate,
and then quickly
speeds up and walks
faster and faster. The
person's rate is not
constant, but
increases as she
continues. This is an
Exponential Growth
In Exponential Growth, the quantity increases very
slowly at first, and then rapidly. The rate of change
increases over time. The rate of growth becomes
faster as time passes. The rapid growth is meant to
be an “exponential increase”. The formula to define
the exponential growth is:
y = a ( 1+ r )x
Where r is the growth percentage.
Exponential Decay
In Exponential Decay, the quantity decreases very
rapidly at first, and then slowly. The rate of change
decreases over time. The rate of change becomes
slower as time passes. The rapid growth meant to be
an “exponential decrease”. The formula to define the
exponential growth is:
y = a ( 1- r )x
Where r is the decay percentage.
What are real life
examples of
exponential growth?
Examples:
• Balance of an
investment earning
compound interest.
• Population growth.
• Growth of cells.
• Spread of a disease in
a pandemic.
What is an example of exponential
decay?
Some examples
include the
exponential decrease
in the size of a
population, amount
of a drug remaining
in a patient's
bloodstream, and the
decay of certain
radioactive isotopes
 Graph Exponential Growth Functions

Graph y = 2x. State the domain and range.

Make a table of values. Connect the points to sketch a

smooth curve.
 Graph Exponential Growth Functions

Answer:

The domain is all real numbers, and the range is all

positive real numbers.
Which is the graph of y = 3x?
A. B.

C. D.
 Graph Transformations

A. Graph the function y = 3x – 2. State the domain

and range.
The equation represents a translation of the graph
y = 3x down 2 units.
 Graph Transformations

Answer:
 Graph Transformations

B. Graph the function y = 2x – 1. State the domain

and range.
The equation represents a translation of the graph
y = 2x right 1 unit.
 Graph Transformations

Answer:
A. Graph the function y = 2x – 4.

A. B.

C. D.
B. Graph the function y = 4x – 2 + 3.

A. B.

C. D.
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

A. Graph the function State the domain

and range.
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

Answer:
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

B. Graph the function State the

domain and range.

The equation represents a transformation of the graph

of

Examine each parameter.

● There is a negative sign in front of the function:
The graph is reflected in the x-axis.
● a = 4: The graph is stretched vertically.
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

● h = 1: The graph is translated 1 unit right.

● k = 2: The graph is translated 2 units up.

Answer:
A. Graph the function

A. B.

C. D.
B. Graph the function
A. B.

C. D.
a = initial value (the amount before
measuring growth or decay)
r = growth or decay rate (most often
represented as a percentage and expressed
as a decimal)
t = number of time intervals that have
passed.
t
y = a(1 – r)
t
y = a(1 + r)
$20,000
 Graph Exponential Growth Functions

INTERNET In 2006, there were 1,020,000,000

people worldwide using the Internet. At that time,
the number of users was growing by 19.5%
annually. Draw a graph showing how the number
of users would grow from 2006 to 2016 if that rate
continued.
First, write an equation using a = 1.020 (in billions),
and r = 0.195.
y = 1.020(1.195)t
Then graph the equation.
 Graph Exponential Growth Functions

Answer:
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

A. AIR PRESSURE The pressure of the atmosphere

is 14.7 lb/in2 at Earth’s surface. It decreases by
about 20% for each mile of altitude up to about
50 miles. Draw a graph to represent atmospheric
pressure for altitude from 0 to 50 miles.
y = a(1 – r)t
= 14.7(1 – 0.20)t
= 14.7(0.80)t
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

Graph the equation.

Answer:
 Graph Exponential Decay Functions

B. AIR PRESSURE The pressure of the atmosphere

is 14.7 lb/in2 at Earth’s surface. It decreases by
about 20% for each mile of altitude up to about
50 miles. Estimate the atmospheric pressure at an
altitude of 10 miles.
y = 14.7(0.80)t Equation from part a.
= 14.7(0.80)10 Replace t with 10.
≈ 1.58 lb/in2 Use a calculator.

Answer: The atmospheric pressure at an altitude of

about 10 miles will be approximately
1.6 lb/in2.