Chapter 6, Problem 10CR

To determine

To tell: whether the function represent exponential growth or exponential decay.

Answer to Problem 10CR

The function represents exponential decay

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The function is $y=3e^{-0.75x}$

Step 1 Identify the value of the base. The base, $3e$ is greater than 0 and smaller than 1, so the function represents exponential decay

Step 2 Make a table of values

$x$	$-2$	$-1$	0	1	2
$y$	$13.445$	$6.351$	3	$1.42$	$0.67$

Step 3 plot the point from the table.

Step 4 Draw from right to left, a smooth curve that begin just above the $x$ -axis, passes through the plotted points, and moves up to the left.

  

Hence, the function represents exponential decay.