AP Precalc 2.

3 Exponential Functions Notes

Write your questions
and thoughts here!

General Form of an Exponential Function

An exponential function has the general form

𝑓 𝑥 𝑎𝑏
Where the initial value is ____. Also, ___________ and __________.

Exponential growth Exponential decay

y y

0, 𝑎
0, 𝑎

x x

when 𝑎 0 and 𝑏 1. when 𝑎 0 and 0 𝑏 1.

Identify if the exponential function is growth or decay and justify your response.
1. 𝑓 𝑥 2 0.6 2. 𝑓 𝑥 2 3. 𝑓 𝑥 4. 𝑓 𝑥 0.2 1.3
Exponential Exponential
Growth or Decay Exponential Exponential Growth or Decay
Growth or Decay Growth or Decay
Because 𝑎 0 and
0 𝑏 1 Because 𝑎 0 and Because 𝑎 0 and Because 𝑎 0 and
𝑏 1 0 𝑏 1 𝑏 1

Examine the function 𝑓 𝑥 3 2 . What are we doing to the initial value 3 when the input value is
𝑥 5?
𝑓 5 3 2
𝑓 𝑥 3⋅2⋅2⋅2⋅2⋅2

The following values are output values of an exponential function of the form 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂 ∙ 𝒃𝒙 ,
where 𝒂 and 𝒃 are constants. Write the function along with the input value that represents the
output value.
5. 4 ⋅ 4 ⋅ 4 ⋅ 1.5 6. 0.8 ⋅ 3.2 ⋅ 0.8

𝑓 𝑥 1.5 4 where 𝑥 3 𝑓 𝑥 3.2 0.8 where 𝑥 2

Write your questions Using your knowledge of exponential functions, sketch the general shape of each exponential function
and thoughts here! with the given parameters.
𝒃 𝟏 𝟎 𝒃 𝟏

𝒂 𝟎

𝒂 𝟎

Characteristics of Exponential Functions

Exponential Functions have the following characteristics.
 They are always increasing or always decreasing.
 There are no extrema. (Except on a closed interval.)
 Their graphs are always concave up or always concave down.
 Their graphs do not have inflection points.
 If the input values increase or decrease without bound, the end-behavior can be expressed as
lim 𝑎𝑏 ∞ or lim 𝑎𝑏 ∞ or lim 𝑎𝑏 𝟎
→ → →

Answer the questions for each exponential function.

7. 𝑓 𝑥 5 0.9 8. 𝑓 𝑥 6 2

a. Is the function increasing or decreasing? a. Is the function increasing or decreasing?

b. Is the function concave up or concave down? b. Is the function concave up or concave down?

c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →

d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →

Additive Transformation of an Exponential Function

Let 𝑔 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 𝑘. This just means we take a function 𝑓 and add something to it to shift the
graph up or down. The function 𝑓 is having 𝑘 added to it to create 𝑔.

If the output values of 𝑔 are proportional over equal-length input-value intervals, then 𝑓 is
exponential.
2.3 Exponential Functions Practice
Identify if the function is exponential growth or decay and justify your response.
1. 𝑓 𝑥 9 3.1 2. 𝑓 𝑥 6.8 0.4 3. 𝑓 𝑥 2.1 0.06 4. 𝑓 𝑥 8
Exponential Exponential Exponential Exponential
Growth or Decay Growth or Decay Growth or Decay Growth or Decay
Because 𝑎 0 Because 𝑎 0 Because 𝑎 0 Because 𝑎 0
and 𝑏 1 and 0 𝑏 1 and 0 𝑏 1 and 𝑏 1

5. 𝑓 𝑥 1.5 6. 𝑓 𝑥 7. 𝑓 𝑥 8. 𝑓 𝑥 18 5.6

Exponential
Exponential Exponential Exponential Growth or Decay
Growth or Decay Growth or Decay Growth or Decay
Because 𝑎 0
Because 𝑎 0 Because 𝑎 0 Because 𝑎 0 and 𝑏 1
and 0 𝑏 1 and 0 𝑏 1 and 𝑏 1

The following values are output values of an exponential function of the form 𝒇 𝒙 𝒂 ∙ 𝒃𝒙 , where 𝒂 and 𝒃 are
constants. Write the function along with the input value that represents the output value.
9. 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7 10. ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ 6 11. 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 12. 2 ⋅4⋅4⋅4⋅4⋅4

𝑓 𝑥 1.5 4 𝑓 𝑥 1.5 4 𝑓 𝑥 1.5 4

𝑓 𝑥 1.5 4
where 𝑥 3 where 𝑥 3 where 𝑥 3
where 𝑥 3

Answer the questions for each exponential function.

13. 𝑓 𝑥 7 2 14. 𝑓 𝑥 4 5

a. Is the function increasing or decreasing? a. Is the function increasing or decreasing?

b. Is the function concave up or concave down? b. Is the function concave up or concave down?

c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →

d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →

15. 𝑓 𝑥 0.2 16. 𝑓 𝑥 6 0.8

a. Is the function increasing or decreasing? a. Is the function increasing or decreasing?

b. Is the function concave up or concave down? b. Is the function concave up or concave down?

c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →

d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥

→ →
 17. 𝑓 𝑥 6 18. 𝑓 𝑥 0.4

a. Is the function increasing or decreasing?

a. Is the function increasing or decreasing?

b. Is the function concave up or concave down?

b. Is the function concave up or concave down?

c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥
c. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 →
→
d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥
d. Find lim 𝑓 𝑥 →
→

2.3 Exponential Functions Test Prep

19.

𝒙 0 1 2 3 4

𝒇 𝒙 40 20 10 5

The exponential function 𝑓 is defined by 𝑓 𝑥 𝑎𝑏 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive constants. The table gives
values of 𝑓 𝑥 at selected values of 𝑥. Which of the following statements is true?

(A) 𝑓 demonstrates exponential decay because 𝑎 0 and 0 𝑏 1.

(B) 𝑓 demonstrates exponential decay because 𝑎 0 and 𝑏 1.

(C) 𝑓 demonstrates exponential growth because 𝑎 0 and 0 𝑏 1.

(D) 𝑓 demonstrates exponential growth because 𝑎 0 and 𝑏 1.

20. The function ℎ is a function of the form ℎ 𝑥 𝑎 ⋅ 𝑏 , where 𝑎 0 and 𝑏 1. The function ℎ is also given by
ℎ 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥 2. Which of the following statements is true.

(A) The output values of both 𝑓 and ℎ are proportional over equal-length input-value intervals.

(B) The output values of 𝑓 only, not ℎ, are proportional over equal-length input-value intervals.

(C) The output values of ℎ only, not 𝑓, are proportional over equal-length input-value intervals.

(D) The output values of neither 𝑓 nor ℎ are proportional over equal-length input-value intervals.

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