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Digital SAT Math
Course: Digital SAT Math > Unit 12
Lesson 12: Exponential graphs: advancedExponential graphs | Lesson
A guide to exponential graphs on the digital SAT
What are exponential graphs?
In an exponential function, the output of the function is based on an expression in which the input is in the exponent. For example, is an exponential function, because is an exponent of the base .
The graphs of exponential functions are nonlinear—because their slopes are always changing, they look like curves, not straight lines:
In this lesson, we'll learn to:
- Graph exponential functions
- Identify the features of exponential functions
You can learn anything. Let's do this!
How do I graph exponential functions, and what are their features?
Graphing exponential growth & decay
Using points to sketch an exponential graph
The best way to graph exponential functions is to find a few points on the graph and to sketch the graph based on these points.
To find a point on the graph, select an input value and calculate the output value. For example, for the function , if we want to find the -value when , we can evaluate :
Since , the point is a point on the graph.
We need to use the points to help us identify three important features of the graph:
- What is the
-intercept? - Is the slope of the graph positive or negative?
- What happens to the value of
as the value of becomes very large?
The -intercept
Not only is the -intercept the easiest feature to identify, it also helps you figure out the rest of the features.
To find the -intercept, evaluate the function at .
For example, the -intercept of the graph of is:
The slope
An exponential function is either always increasing or always decreasing. If you have already evaluated , try evaluating .
- If
, then the slope of the graph is positive. - If
, then the slope of the graph is negative.
For , since and , we can conclude that the slope of the graph is positive because .
The end behavior
End behavior is just another term for what happens to the value of as becomes very large in both the positive and negative directions. For the graph of an exponential function, the value of will always grow to positive or negative infinity on one end and approach, but not reach, a horizontal line on the other. The horizontal line that the graph approaches but never reaches is called the horizontal asymptote.
For :
- As
increases, becomes very large. The value of on the right end of the graph approaches infinity. - As
decreases, becomes closer and closer to , but it's always slightly larger than . The value of on the left end of the graph approaches, but never reaches, .
Putting it all together
With the help of a few more points, , , and , we can sketch the graph of .
Note: if you're graphing by hand, it's more important to recognize that the value of will grow to positive infinity as increases than getting the graph exactly right! You can use the points you identified to establish a trend and sketch out the curve.
To graph an exponential function:
- Evaluate the function at various values of
—start with , , and . Find additional points on the graph if necessary. - Use the points from Step 1 to sketch a curve, establishing the
-intercept and the direction of the slope. - Extend the curve on both ends. One end will approach a horizontal asymptote, and the other will approach positive or negative infinity along the
-axis.
Example: Graph .
Try it!
How do I identify features of exponential graphs from exponential functions?
Graphs of exponential growth
Identifying features of graphs from functions
The basic exponential function
Let's start with the basics!
The most basic exponential function has a base and an exponent:
Let's consider the case where is a positive real number:
- If
, then the slope of the graph is positive, and the graph shows exponential growth. As increases, the value of approaches infinity. As decreases, the value of approaches . - If
, then the slope of the graph is negative, and the graph shows exponential decay. In this case, as increases, the value of approaches . As decreases, the value of approaches infinity. - For all values of
, the -intercept is .
The graphs of and are shown below.
How do we shift the horizontal asymptote?
The -value of every exponential graph approaches positive or negative infinity on one end and a constant on the other. We can change the constant value approaches by introducing a constant term to the function:
- For
, the value of approaches infinity on one end and the constant on the other. - For
, the value of approaches infinity on one end and on the other.
The graphs of and are shown below.
- For
, as decreases, the value of approaches . - For
, as decreases, the value of approaches .
How do we shift the -intercept?
We can change the -intercept of the graph either by introducing a constant term (as above) or introducing a coefficient for the exponential term:
- For
, the -intercept is . - For
, the -intercept is . In this form, is also called the initial value. - For
, the -intercept is .
The graphs of , , and are shown below.
- For
, the -intercept is . - For
, the -intercept is . - For
, the -intercept is .
Try it!
You turn!
Things to remember
For , where is a positive real number:
- If
, then the slope of the graph is positive, and the graph shows exponential growth. As increases, the value of approaches infinity. As decreases, the value of approaches . - If
, then the slope of the graph is negative, and the graph shows exponential decay. In this case, as increases, the value of approaches . As decreases, the value of approaches infinity. - For all values of
, the -intercept is .
To shift the horizontal asymptote:
- For
, the value of approaches infinity on one end and the constant on the other. - For
, the value of approaches infinity on one end and on the other.
To shift the -intercept:
- For
, the -intercept is . - For
, the -intercept is . In this form, is also called the initial value. - For
, the -intercept is .
Want to join the conversation?
- Are the digital sat practice tests on the same level of difficulty compared to the real exam?(11 votes)
- Kind of, for me, the practice exams are easier than the real ones(9 votes)
- Where can I find more online materials to practice for the digital SAT rather than the 4 practice tests from the College board. I'm about to finish the foundation in khan academy, but I need more materials to solve.(9 votes)
- first of all you should solve the medium and advance difficulty questions on Khan academy.
Second, if you want more material you can download bluebook app and you can practice on that app.(7 votes)
- can't we just use demsos to graph(10 votes)
- did u take the sat before?(1 vote)
- who here is doing the march test?(9 votes)
- thank goodness im done with this lesson bro its legitAM 1:50(8 votes)
- desmos entered the chat(6 votes)
- hello guys I want a suggestion from u guys .So my sat test date is 4 November 2023 and I just completed all of the maths units foundation in KA.Now my whole English is left and I'm confused like I've an option of giving Sat in December but ill have my mids in college at that time and it would be difficult for me to study for sat and I am willing to get my desired date at the very first attempt.I would obv finish the SAT course b4 exam but I think I'm not very well prepared for sat my desired grade is 1350 plus.PLEASEE DROP DOWN YOUR OPINIONS AND SUGGEST ME WITH SOME GOOD ADVISES.i am in A2 RN for the contexttt....(3 votes)
- im taking sat on nov and I have almost completed the math section too. i have practiced english before but it was long ago.now im gonna start them again.as u have less time i would suggest u doing the writing section first because its easier .reading can be harder but try to practice them too.Use khan academy and u can also read erica meltzer reading and writing book.also for vocabulary u can download digital sat vocabulary list on ur phone.Remember you have to work a lot as u dont have enough time.but if u feel burnt out i would suggest taking sat on december too.thats what im doing.if i dont get my desired scored in nov than ill take it again on dec.
i wish u all the best with ur SAT.(4 votes)
- Can anyone explain the horizontal asymptote concept?(4 votes)
- Can someone explain why g(x)=-(3/4)^x+1 has a positive slope and not a negative one
I thought that if 0<b<1 —> negative slope
3/4= 0.75 —> negative slope
Does a have influence on the slope too?
Thank youuu(2 votes) - And what if in (ab^x+d) b=1, will it just be a straight line?(1 vote)
- Yes, that is true, but ideally it would either be greater than 1 or a fraction/decimal, so that most likely won't occur.(2 votes)