5.3.2 Graphing Exponential Functions: Useful Patterns

Question 1

exponential functions

Answer 1

• Exponential functions are functions where the variable is in the exponent.
  • The graphs of exponential functions like y = a
  x where a >1 all have the same basic shape. The graph grows rapidly for
  positive x and shrinks gradually to zero for negative x. The x-axis is a horizontal asymptote.
  • The larger the base of an exponential function, the more rapidly it grows for positive values of x and the more rapidly it
  decreases for negative values of x.