Final answer:
3) The coefficient a. The exponential parent function is represented by y = a^bx, where a is the coefficient and b is the exponent. The coefficient represents the initial value or starting point of the function, while the exponent determines the rate of growth or decay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exponential parent function is represented by the equation y = abx, where a is the coefficient. The coefficient a determines the overall growth or decay of the function. It represents the initial value or starting point of the exponential function. The exponent b, on the other hand, determines the rate of growth or decay. It determines how quickly the function increases or decreases as the value of x changes.