Exploring Exponential Functions
- Author:
- Ally Rey Carpenter
We learned in the previous lessons that the base formula for an exponential function is . We can manipulate this function in a variety of ways.
Please use this activity to explore the graphs of exponential functions. You may need to adjust the graph window to see the effects of each slider.
Write down what you discover in your personal notes. After you have experimented with this activity, answer the guiding questions that follow.
What occurs when a=0?
When b, c, and d are unchanging, how do changes in a affect the graph?
What happens when b=0?
What occurs when b=1?
When a, c, and d are unchanging, how do changes in b affect the graph? To answer this question, pay attention to if sign of b. (Pay attention to when b is positive and when b is negative?)
When a, b, and d are unchanging, how do changes in c affect the graph?
When a, b, and c are unchanging, how do changes in d affect the graph?