Exponential growth and decay

Steps for Exponential Problem Solving

1: Decide if the problem is describing exponential growth or decay. ("increase" = growth, "decrease" = decay)

2: Convert the growth or decay percentage to a decimal. This decimal is your r value. Ex: 23% = .23 and 5% = .05

3: Write your exponential equation. a is your starting value.

GROWTH: y = a(1 + r)^x

DECAY: y = a(1 - r)^x

4: Use the equation to solve the problem. Remember that x is input and y is output.

Multiple Choice

An antibiotic is introduced into a colony of 12,000 bacteria during a laboratory experiment. The colony is decreasing by 14.9% per minute. Which function can be used to model the number of bacteria in the colony after x minutes?

• f(x) = 12000(1 + 14.9)^x

• f(x) = 12000(1 - 14.9)^x

• f(x) = 12000(1 + 0.149)^x

• f(x) = 12000(1 - 0.149)^x

Multiple Choice

Twenty years ago, Mr. Davis purchased his home for $160,000. Since then, the value of the home has increased about 5% per year. How much is the home worth today?

• $176,783.29

• $424,527.63

• $57,357.75

• $532,041,076.80

Multiple Choice

Suppose a culture of bacteria begins with 5000 cells and dies by 30% each year. Write an equation that represents this situation.

• y=5000(0.7)^x

• y=30(5000)^x

• y=5000(1.3)^x

• y=5000x^x

Multiple Choice

A publishing industry report predicts that magazine subscriptions will drop by 10% each year. If this prediction is correct, then how many subscribers will a magazine with 98,000 subscribers have in 10 years? (Round to the nearest whole number if necessary).

• 34,170

• 16,348

• 7690

• 76,023

Multiple Choice

Middletown High School has student elections every year. Lately, the school has seen a 5% decrease in voting from election to election. If 910 students voted this year, how many will be expected to vote 8 years from now? (Round to the nearest whole number if necessary).

• 604

• 777

• 29

• 198

Multiple Choice

The value of a car is $18,000 and depreciating at a rate of 12% per year. Use an exponential function to find the value of the car after 10 years.

• $5,013.02

• $12,128.74

• $6,838.98

Multiple Choice

An investment of $8200 loses value at a rate of 2% per year. Use an exponential function to find the value of the investment after 9 years.

• $4,147.02

• $6,836.73

• $5,105.17