Final answer:
The exponential formula y = ab^x describes an exponential growth pattern, where 'a' is the initial value and 'b' is the growth factor. The value of 'y' increases at a rate proportional to its current size as 'x' increases. The correct answer is b) Exponential growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exponential formula y = abx represents an exponential growth pattern. In this formula, a is the initial value (when x is zero), and b is the growth factor or rate.
As the independent variable x increases, the dependent variable y grows at a rate proportional to its current value, which means the growth is exponential.
This is in contrast with linear, quadratic, and inverse proportional relationships shown in graphs where the shape of the curve differs significantly.
As an example, imagine a bacteria population that doubles every hour. If we start with 100 bacteria, the population after x hours would be y = 100 × 2x, demonstrating that as each hour passes, the number of bacteria grows exponentially.