Identify the base and the exponent

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 12 views

Introduction

Graphing functions is an essential skill in mathematics, and it's crucial to understand how to graph various types of functions, including exponential functions. In this article, we will graph the function $$y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.

What is the Y-Intercept?

The $y$ -intercept of a function is the point where the graph of the function intersects the $y$ -axis. In other words, it's the value of $y$ when $x=0$ . To find the $y$ -intercept, we need to substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .

Graphing the Function

To graph the function $$y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^x$$, we can use the following steps:

Identify the base and the exponent: The base of the function is $2$ , and the exponent is $x$ .
Determine the direction of the graph: Since the base is greater than $1$ , the graph of the function will increase as $x$ increases.
Find the $y$ -intercept: To find the $y$ -intercept, we substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .

Finding the Y-Intercept

To find the $y$ -intercept, we substitute $x=0$ into the function:

y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^0

Since any number raised to the power of $0$ is equal to $1$ , we have:

y=\frac{1}{5}(1)

Simplifying the expression, we get:

y=\frac{1}{5}

Therefore, the $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^x$$ is $(0, \frac{1}{5})$ .

Conclusion

In this article, we graphed the function $$y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^x$$ and found its $y$ -intercept. We used the following steps to graph the function:

Identify the base and the exponent: The base of the function is $2$ , and the exponent is $x$ .
Determine the direction of the graph: Since the base is greater than $1$ , the graph of the function will increase as $x$ increases.
Find the $y$ -intercept: To find the $y$ -intercept, we substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .

We found that the $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=\frac{1}{5}(2)^x$$ is $(0, \frac{1}{5})$ .

Key Takeaways

The $y$ -intercept of a function is the point where the graph of the function intersects the $y$ -axis.
To find the $y$ -intercept, we substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .
The graph of an exponential function with a base greater than $1$ will increase as $x$ increases.

Practice Problems

Graph the function $$y=\frac{1}{3}(4)^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.
Graph the function $$y=\frac{1}{2}(3)^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.
Graph the function $$y=\frac{1}{4}(2)^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.

Answer Key

The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=\frac{1}{3}(4)^x$$ is $(0, \frac{1}{3})$ .
The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=\frac{1}{2}(3)^x$$ is $(0, \frac{1}{2})$ .
The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=\frac{1}{4}(2)^x$$ is $(0, \frac{1}{4})$ .
Graphing Exponential Functions: Q&A =====================================

Introduction

Graphing exponential functions is an essential skill in mathematics, and it's crucial to understand how to graph various types of functions, including exponential functions. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about graphing exponential functions.

Q: What is an exponential function?

A: An exponential function is a function of the form $$y=a^x$$, where $a$ is a positive real number and $x$ is the variable.

Q: How do I graph an exponential function?

A: To graph an exponential function, you can use the following steps:

Identify the base and the exponent: The base of the function is $a$ , and the exponent is $x$ .
Determine the direction of the graph: Since the base is greater than $1$ , the graph of the function will increase as $x$ increases.
Find the $y$ -intercept: To find the $y$ -intercept, substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .

Q: What is the $y$ -intercept of an exponential function?

A: The $y$ -intercept of an exponential function is the point where the graph of the function intersects the $y$ -axis. To find the $y$ -intercept, substitute $x=0$ into the function and solve for $y$ .

Q: How do I determine the direction of the graph of an exponential function?

A: To determine the direction of the graph of an exponential function, you need to look at the base of the function. If the base is greater than $1$ , the graph of the function will increase as $x$ increases. If the base is less than $1$ , the graph of the function will decrease as $x$ increases.

Q: What is the difference between an exponential function and a linear function?

A: An exponential function is a function of the form $$y=a^x$$, where $a$ is a positive real number and $x$ is the variable. A linear function is a function of the form $$y=mx+b$$, where $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the $y$ -intercept.

Q: Can I graph an exponential function using a graphing calculator?

A: Yes, you can graph an exponential function using a graphing calculator. Simply enter the function into the calculator and use the graphing feature to visualize the function.

Q: What are some common applications of exponential functions?

A: Exponential functions have many real-world applications, including:

Population growth: Exponential functions can be used to model population growth, where the population increases at a constant rate.
Compound interest: Exponential functions can be used to calculate compound interest, where the interest rate is applied to the principal amount at regular intervals.
Radioactive decay: Exponential functions can be used to model radioactive decay, where the amount of radioactive material decreases at a constant rate.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions about graphing exponential functions. We covered topics such as the definition of an exponential function, how to graph an exponential function, and the $y$ -intercept of an exponential function. We also discussed the difference between an exponential function and a linear function, and some common applications of exponential functions.

Key Takeaways

An exponential function is a function of the form $$y=a^x$$, where $a$ is a positive real number and $x$ is the variable.
To graph an exponential function, you need to identify the base and the exponent, determine the direction of the graph, and find the $y$ -intercept.
The $y$ -intercept of an exponential function is the point where the graph of the function intersects the $y$ -axis.
Exponential functions have many real-world applications, including population growth, compound interest, and radioactive decay.

Practice Problems

Graph the function $$y=2^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.
Graph the function $$y=3^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.
Graph the function $$y=4^x$$ and find its $y$ -intercept.

Answer Key

The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=2^x$$ is $(0, 1)$ .
The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=3^x$$ is $(0, 1)$ .
The $y$ -intercept of the function $$y=4^x$$ is $(0, 1)$ .