Question

A doctor estimates that a particular patient is losing bone density at a rate of 3% annually. The patient currently has a bone density of 1,500 kg/mg3. The doctor writes an exponential function to represent the situation. Which values should the doctor use for a and b in a function written in the form f(x) = abx, where f(x) represents the bone density after x years?

a =

b =

Answer 1

a will be the initial amount so:

a = 1,500 kg/m³

b will be decrease factor so:

1 - 3%

b = 0.97

Answer 2

a will be the initial amount so:
a = 1,500 kg/m³

b will be decrease factor so:
1 - 3%
b = 0.97