Graph of the Function – f: x anx

The graph of the function f: x anx is a smooth curve in the positive region of the rectangular Cartesian
plane. This smooth curve is called a growth curve (or exponential curve).

1. Draw the graph of the exponential function f: x 2x for the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 6.

Table of values
x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 1 2 4 8 16 32 64

y - axis

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
x – axis
 2. Draw the graph of the exponential function f: x 3x for the domain 0 ≤ x ≤ 5.

Table of values
x 0 1 2 3 4 5
y 1 3 9 27 81 243

y - axis
300

250

200

150

100

50

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
x – axis
 3. Table of observations

No. of bacteria (thousands) 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128

Time (hours) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The table above was obtained in an experiment.

(a) Plot a graph to represent the data obtained.
(b) Determine the particular formula connecting the time and the number of
bacteria.
(c) Determine: (i) the number of bacteria after 4.5 h
(ii) the time when the number of bacteria is expected to reach
512 000.
No. of Bacteria
(thousands)

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Time (hours)
(a) Number of bacteria = 1000 x 2t
(b) (i) N = 23 000
(ii) t = 9 h
 4. A flu virus multiplies according to the formula N = a . 2t, where N = the number of flu virus a time t.
(a) Plot a graph of N against t, when a = 1000 for the times t = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h.
(b) From your graph estimate: (i) the number of flu virus present initially.
(ii) the number of flu virus after 2.5 hours.
(iii) the time when the number of flu virus should reach 64 000.

Table of observations

No. of flu virus (thousands) 2 4 8 16 32 64

Time (hours) 1 2 3 4 5 6

(a)
No. of flu virus
(thousands)
70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time (hours)

(b) (i) 1000 flu virus

(ii) N = 5 700
(iii) t = 6 h
 5. The table below shows how a sum of money appreciates under compound interest for a period of
5 years.
Table of values
11 000 12 100 13 300 14 600 16 000 17500 19100 20800 22600 24500 26500 28600 30800 33100
Amount ($)
Time 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
(years)

Draw a graph to represent the data given.

Amount
($)

35000

30000

25000

20000
Time (years)

15000

10000

5000

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Time (years)