Answer:
I would go with True; while it's not entirely true seems like a trick question, and you haven't gotten to the part yet.
Explanation:
This statement is not entirely true. An exponential function can have a negative base, but only for certain types of numbers as the exponent.
If the exponent is a positive integer (e.g., 1, 2, 3, ...), then any base can be used for the exponential function. For example, (-2)^2 = 4 and 3^2 = 9 are valid exponential functions.
However, if the exponent is a fraction, decimal, or irrational number, then the base of the exponential function must be a positive number. The exponential function with a negative base can produce complex or imaginary values for certain exponents.
For example, (-2)^0.5 is not a real number, but (2)^0.5 = sqrt(2) is a valid real number. Therefore, when dealing with fractional or irrational exponents, we restrict the base of the exponential function to be positive.