High School

Determine whether the equation represents exponential growth, exponential decay, or neither:

[tex]f(t) = 220(1.06)^t[/tex]

The equation is [____].
The starting value of the function is [____].

Answer :

We are given the function

[tex]$$
f(t) = 220(1.06)^t.
$$[/tex]

Step 1: Identify the type of function
The function is in the form

[tex]$$
f(t) = a \cdot b^t,
$$[/tex]

where [tex]$a = 220$[/tex] and [tex]$b = 1.06$[/tex]. If [tex]$b > 1$[/tex], the function represents exponential growth. Since [tex]$1.06 > 1$[/tex], the function represents exponential growth.

Step 2: Determine the starting value
The starting value is the value of the function when [tex]$t = 0$[/tex]. Calculate:

[tex]$$
f(0) = 220(1.06)^0.
$$[/tex]

Since any nonzero number raised to the power [tex]$0$[/tex] is [tex]$1$[/tex], we have:

[tex]$$
f(0) = 220(1) = 220.
$$[/tex]

Final Answer: The equation represents exponential growth, and the starting value is [tex]$220$[/tex].

Other Questions