Final answer:
The given exponential function represents exponential decay with a decay rate of 58%.
Step-by-step explanation:
Given the exponential function y = 52(0.42)^x, we can determine whether the change represents growth or decay and find the percentage rate of increase or decrease.
In this case, the base of the exponential function is 0.42, which is less than 1, indicating decay. When the base is less than 1, the function represents exponential decay.
To find the percentage rate of decrease, we need to determine the decay factor, which is the base of the exponential function subtracted from 1. In this case, the decay factor is 1 - 0.42 = 0.58. To convert this to a percentage, we multiply by 100, giving us a decay rate of 58%.