Question

identify the function as exponential growth or exponential decay. then identify the growth factor or decay factor. y=3*1.5^x

Answer 1

The base of the exponent is what tells us if the exponential function is a growth or decay function:

- If the base is smaller than 1, we have a decay function.

- If the base is greater than 2, we have a growth function.

We can prove that by calculating two values of y for increasing values of x: the only way that y increases when x increases is if the base of the exponent x is greater than 1.

In this case the base of the exponent is 1.5, that is bigger than 1, so this function represents an exponential growth.

Answer:

Exponential growth.

The growth factor is 1.5.