Applications of Exponential Functions

 Introduction:

This is a set of guiding questions for creating your own lesson plan on applications of exponential functions.

 Common Core State Standards:

F.BF.1

F.LE.2

F.IF.8

 Learning Objectives:

1. To apply mathematical models that use basic exponential functions.

2. To solve basic equations involving exponential functions using graphs.

• What have we learned about exponential functions?

• What is a basic model of an exponential function? (y = bx)

• What restrictions do we put on the base? Why?

• What is the domain of those functions?

• What is the range?

• How is the graph of a basic exponential function (and its range) affected when we multiply it by a positive integer? How about a negative integer?

• How can we generalize this? (y = abx)

• What happens to y = abx when x = 0?

• What do you think we can predict with these functions?

• Can we represent growth or decay? How?

• If we let x represent time, what would a be? What about y? What about b?

• How and why do we count the population of North Carolina? The United States? The

  world?

• How can we solve the equation ? What about ?

• Would you like to try graphs? How would that help?