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The graph of an exponential function passes through (2,−32) and (3,−64). Find the exponential function that describes the graph.

User Umpirsky
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:
y=(-8)2^x

Explanation:

The exponential function will have this form:


y=ab^x

We know that the function passes through the points
(2,-32) and
(3,-64). Then, we can substitute the coordinates of the point
(2,-32) into
y=ab^x and solve for "a":


-32=ab^2\\\\a=(-32)/(b^2)

Then, we know that:


y=((-32)/(b^2))b^x

Now, we neeed to substitute the coordinates of the second point
(3,-64) into
y=((-32)/(b^2))b^x and solve for "b":


-64=((-32)/(b^2))b^3\\\\-64=-32b\\\\(-64)/(-32)=b\\\\b=2

Substituting the value of "b" into
a=(-32)/(b^2) we can find "a":


a(-32)/(2^2)\\\\a=-8

Therefore, we get that the exponential function that describes the graph, is:


y=(-8)2^x

User Chris Lercher
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7.8k points