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Dec 16, 2025

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Master Exponential Functions: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Senior High School

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Ever wonder how your savings grow in a bank account... Show more

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$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Understanding Exponential Functions

Think of exponential functions as the math behind things that change dramatically over time. Unlike regular functions where changes happen steadily, exponential functions show situations where growth or decay speeds up as time passes.

The basic form is f(x) = b^x where b is your base (and b > 0, b ≠ 1). When b > 1, you get explosive growth like viral videos or population booms. When 0 < b < 1, you see rapid decline like a car's value or radioactive decay.

💡 Quick Tip: If the base is bigger than 1, expect growth. If it's between 0 and 1, expect decline. This simple rule helps you instantly recognize what's happening in any exponential situation.

These functions pop up everywhere in real life - from compound interest in your savings account to predicting how fast diseases spread during epidemics.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Compound Interest Made Simple

Your money doesn't just sit there in the bank - it actually multiplies using the compound interest formula: A = P $1 + r/n$ ^nt. This formula might look scary, but it's basically showing how your money grows when interest earns more interest.

Here's what each part means: P is your starting money, r is the interest rate (as a decimal), n is how often they calculate interest per year, and t is time in years. The magic happens because you earn interest on your interest!

The frequency matters more than you think. Annual compounding means n=1, but monthly compounding $n=12$ gives you way more money over time. Banks love to advertise "compounded daily" because it sounds impressive and actually gives you slightly better returns.

💡 Money Tip: Even small interest rates become powerful over long periods. Starting to save early beats having a high interest rate later - time is your biggest advantage!

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Solving Real Exponential Problems

Let's break down how to tackle these problems step by step. When you see a motorcycle worth ₱150,000 losing 12% of its value each year, you're dealing with exponential decay.

First, identify what type of problem you have - is it growth, decay, or compound interest? Then pick your formula. For decay, use y = a $1-r$ ^x where a is your starting value and r is the decay rate.

In our motorcycle example: y = 150,000(1-0.12)^t = 150,000(0.88)^t. The key insight? Each year, the bike keeps 88% of its previous year's value, not loses a fixed amount.

💡 Problem-Solving Hack: Always convert percentages to decimals and remember that "losing 12%" means you keep 88% (1 - 0.12 = 0.88). This mental switch makes exponential problems much clearer.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Practice Problems to Master

Now you get to flex those exponential muscles with some real scenarios! These problems cover the three main types you'll encounter: population growth, depreciation, and compound interest.

Problem 1 shows doubling growth - 200 ants becoming 400 every 2 years. Problem 2 deals with a car losing 8% value yearly (classic depreciation). Problem 3 involves monthly compounding, which means n=12 in your formula.

For each problem, start by identifying the scenario type, then choose your formula, plug in the numbers, and simplify. Don't stress about getting perfect answers immediately - the pattern recognition is more important than calculation speed.

💡 Study Strategy: Try solving these without looking at the formulas first. If you get stuck, that tells you exactly what concepts need more practice. Focus your study time on those specific areas.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Exponential Decay Deep Dive

When things lose value consistently over time, you're witnessing exponential decay in action. Unlike linear decrease where you lose the same amount each period, exponential decay means you lose the same percentage each time.

The formula y = a $1-r$ ^x captures this perfectly. The $1-r$ part is your decay factor - it shows what percentage remains after each time period. If something loses 12% yearly, it keeps 88% of its value.

This explains why new cars lose value so quickly. A 20% yearly depreciation means the car keeps 80% of its value each year. After just 3 years, it's worth only 51% of the original price!

💡 Real-World Connection: Your smartphone, laptop, and gaming console all follow exponential decay. Understanding this helps you make smarter buying decisions and know when to upgrade vs. repair.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Exponential Function Examples

Let's see exponential functions in their simplest forms. When the base b > 1 like y = 2^x, you get explosive growth - each step doubles your previous result. These represent situations like viral social media posts or bacterial reproduction.

When 0 < b < 1 like y = (1/2)^x or y = 0.1^x, you see rapid shrinkage. These model radioactive decay, medicine leaving your bloodstream, or the value of trendy items that quickly go out of style.

The base number tells you everything about the behavior. A base of 2 means doubling, while a base of 0.5 means halving. A base of 1.1 means 10% growth, while 0.9 means 10% decline.

💡 Pattern Recognition: Train your eye to spot the base value quickly. It instantly tells you whether you're dealing with growth or decay and how dramatic the change will be.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Real-Life Applications Everywhere

Exponential functions aren't just textbook math - they're literally everywhere around you! Population growth, disease spread, compound interest, and even social media follower counts all follow exponential patterns.

The key difference between exponential and linear growth is speed. Linear growth adds the same amount each time (like climbing stairs), while exponential growth multiplies by the same factor (like a rocket taking off). The curves look completely different too!

Understanding these patterns helps you make better decisions. Should you invest now or later? How fast will that new trend spread through your school? When will your savings reach your goal amount?

💡 Life Application: Start noticing exponential patterns in your daily life. From how quickly gossip spreads to how your phone battery percentage drops, recognizing these patterns makes you mathematically smarter about the world.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Growth vs Decay Models

Master these two essential formulas and you can model almost any changing situation. Population growth uses y = a $1+r$ ^x where you add the growth rate to 1. Exponential decay uses y = a $1-r$ ^x where you subtract the decay rate from 1.

The key insight? Growth factors are greater than 1, while decay factors are less than 1 but greater than 0. A 5% growth rate gives you a factor of 1.05, while a 5% decay rate gives you 0.95.

Both formulas start with the same structure - initial amount a, multiplied by a factor raised to the power of time x. The only difference is whether you're adding or subtracting the rate from 1.

💡 Memory Trick: Think "growth = add to get above 1" and "decay = subtract to get below 1." This simple rule prevents formula confusion during tests and real-world applications.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Half-Life Problems Made Easy

Half-life problems are just exponential decay with a twist - you know exactly when something reaches half its original amount. With 20g of radioactive substance that halves every 10 days, you can predict any future amount.

The beauty of half-life is its predictability. After 10 days: 10g remains. After 20 days: 5g. After 30 days: 2.5g. Each 10-day period cuts the amount in half, following the decay factor of 0.5.

To set up the function, use y = 20(0.5)^ $x/10$ where x is days and you divide by 10 because that's your half-life period. This formula works for any half-life situation you encounter.

💡 Science Connection: Half-life isn't just for radioactive materials. Medicine in your body, caffeine's effects, and even how long trends stay popular all follow half-life patterns. Understanding this helps you grasp timing in many situations.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

Function Fundamentals Review

Before diving deeper into exponentials, let's nail down what makes a function special. A function pairs each input with exactly one output - no input can have multiple outputs, but multiple inputs can share the same output.

Exponential functions have the form f(x) = b^x where the base b must be positive and not equal to 1. Why these restrictions? Negative bases create complex numbers, and b = 1 gives you a boring horizontal line!

The variable x sits in the exponent position, which is what makes these functions so powerful. Small changes in x create massive changes in the output, explaining why exponential growth feels so dramatic in real life.

💡 Foundation Check: If you're struggling with exponential functions, make sure you're solid on basic exponent rules first. Most exponential confusion actually stems from shaky exponent fundamentals, not the function concept itself.

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Subjects

GenMath

•

358

•

Dec 16, 2025

•

25 pages

Master Exponential Functions: A Comprehensive Study Guide for Senior High School

MG Reviewer

@mg_reviewer

Ever wonder how your savings grow in a bank account or why your phone loses value so quickly? Exponential functions are the mathematical tools that help us model these real-world situations where things grow or shrink at rates that get... Show more

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Understanding Exponential Functions

💡 Quick Tip: If the base is bigger than 1, expect growth. If it's between 0 and 1, expect decline. This simple rule helps you instantly recognize what's happening in any exponential situation.

These functions pop up everywhere in real life - from compound interest in your savings account to predicting how fast diseases spread during epidemics.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Compound Interest Made Simple

💡 Money Tip: Even small interest rates become powerful over long periods. Starting to save early beats having a high interest rate later - time is your biggest advantage!

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Solving Real Exponential Problems

Let's break down how to tackle these problems step by step. When you see a motorcycle worth ₱150,000 losing 12% of its value each year, you're dealing with exponential decay.

In our motorcycle example: y = 150,000(1-0.12)^t = 150,000(0.88)^t. The key insight? Each year, the bike keeps 88% of its previous year's value, not loses a fixed amount.

💡 Problem-Solving Hack: Always convert percentages to decimals and remember that "losing 12%" means you keep 88% (1 - 0.12 = 0.88). This mental switch makes exponential problems much clearer.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Practice Problems to Master

Now you get to flex those exponential muscles with some real scenarios! These problems cover the three main types you'll encounter: population growth, depreciation, and compound interest.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Exponential Decay Deep Dive

This explains why new cars lose value so quickly. A 20% yearly depreciation means the car keeps 80% of its value each year. After just 3 years, it's worth only 51% of the original price!

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Exponential Function Examples

When 0 < b < 1 like y = (1/2)^x or y = 0.1^x, you see rapid shrinkage. These model radioactive decay, medicine leaving your bloodstream, or the value of trendy items that quickly go out of style.

The base number tells you everything about the behavior. A base of 2 means doubling, while a base of 0.5 means halving. A base of 1.1 means 10% growth, while 0.9 means 10% decline.

💡 Pattern Recognition: Train your eye to spot the base value quickly. It instantly tells you whether you're dealing with growth or decay and how dramatic the change will be.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Real-Life Applications Everywhere

Understanding these patterns helps you make better decisions. Should you invest now or later? How fast will that new trend spread through your school? When will your savings reach your goal amount?

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Growth vs Decay Models

The key insight? Growth factors are greater than 1, while decay factors are less than 1 but greater than 0. A 5% growth rate gives you a factor of 1.05, while a 5% decay rate gives you 0.95.

Both formulas start with the same structure - initial amount a, multiplied by a factor raised to the power of time x. The only difference is whether you're adding or subtracting the rate from 1.

💡 Memory Trick: Think "growth = add to get above 1" and "decay = subtract to get below 1." This simple rule prevents formula confusion during tests and real-world applications.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Half-Life Problems Made Easy

The beauty of half-life is its predictability. After 10 days: 10g remains. After 20 days: 5g. After 30 days: 2.5g. Each 10-day period cuts the amount in half, following the decay factor of 0.5.

To set up the function, use y = 20(0.5)^ $x/10$ where x is days and you divide by 10 because that's your half-life period. This formula works for any half-life situation you encounter.

$EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS Compound Interest can be generally modeled by $A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}$ Note: where, A is the compound amount; P is th$

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Function Fundamentals Review