Graphing Exponential Functions

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In this lesson, we will learn

• how to graph exponential functions by plotting points.
• the characteristics of graphs of exponential functions.
• how to use transformations to graph an exponential function.

Graph exponential functions by plotting points

The general form of an exponential function is y = bⁿ, where b > 0 and b ≠ 1 and n is a real number.

Example:

Draw the graph of y = 3^x for –1 ≤ x ≤ 2.

Solution:

x	–1	–0.5	0	0.5	1	1.5	2
y	0.33	0.58	1	1.73	3	5.2	9

y = 3^x

In this video, we look at how to graph an exponential function by plotting points.

Characteristics of Exponential Graph

From the graph above, we notice the following characteristics or properties of the exponential graph (curve) y = bⁿ, where b > 0 and b ≠ 1 and n is a real number:

a) As the value of x increases, the value of y increases far more than the increase of value of x.

b) The range (or values of y) are positve real numbers (never zero).

c) The graph is asymptotic to the x-axis that is it gets very close to the x-axis but does not touch it or cross it.

d) The graph always crosses the y-axis at (0, 1)

This video gives the properties of exponential functions (where b >1).

This video gives the properties of exponential functions (where 0 < b <1).

Use transformations to graph an exponential function. The following video shows how to use transformations to graph an exponential function. How to graph exponential functions that have been transformed (shifted up or down, left or right, and perhaps even reflected).