Monday, January 21, 2013

How do we solve exponential fuctions?

Well we already know how to solve exponential equations, or at least we get the hang of it.
     Our new challege is to solve exponential functions.

The general form of the exponential fuction can be written:
     f(x) = ab^x
this is where a is the initial value, and b is the growth rate.
     w(t) = 100 * 2^t

Lets try this problem;
     A population of rabbits doubles every 60 days according to the formula P = 10(2)^t/60 , where P is the population of rabbits on day t, what is the value of t when the population is 320?

a ; would be the initial population, where b would be the growth rate.
          320  = 10(2)^t/60
           10            10

          32 = 2^t/60
         2^5 = 2^t/60
       60*5 - t/60*60    (cancels out)
t would equal 300

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