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What are the values of a and b in the exponential function given two points on thegraph?(2, 6400) and (4, 4096)

User Aperture
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1 Answer

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Ok, so:

I suppose that the exponential function you mean is this one: y = ae^(bx).

To find a and b, we replace:

6400 = ae^(2b) (1 equation)

4096 = ae^(4b). (2 equation)

We can solve this system as this:

If we find a in the first equation:

a = (6400) / (e^(2b).

Now we replace this fact in equation 2:

4096 = (6400)/e^(2b)) * (e^(4b)).

Simplifying:

4096 = 6400 * e^(2b)

0.64 = e^(2b)

Now, we apply the natural logarithm to both sides:

ln (0.64) = ln(e^(2b)).

This is

ln (0.64) = 2b.

Then, b= ln(0.64)/2. which is approximately -0.22.

Now, we find a if we replace b in any equation:

6400 = ae^(2b)

6400 = ae^(2(-0.22))

6400 = ae^(-0.44))

a = 6400 / e^(-0.44) which is approximately 9937.3

User Brandon Gano
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