Unit 9C Exponential Modeling

Exponential Functions An exponential function grows (or decays) by the same relative amount per unit time. For any quantity Q growing exponentially with a fractional growth rate r, Q = Q0 (1+r)t where Q = value of the exponentially growing quantity at time t Q0 = initial value of the quantity (at t = 0) r = fractional growth rate for the quantity t = time Negative values of r correspond to exponential decay. Note that the units of time used for t and r must be the same. While an exponential growing quantity has a constant relative growth rate, its absolute growth rate increases.

Example 1 The 2010 census found a U.S. population of about 309 million, with an estimated growth rate of 0.9% per year. Write an equation for the U.S. population that assumes exponential growth at this rate. Use the equation to predict the U.S. population in 2100.

Example 2 China’s one child policy was originally implemented with the goal of reducing China’s population to 700 million by 2050. China’s 2013 population was about 1.3 billion. Suppose China’s population declines at a rate of 0.5% per year. Write an equation for the exponential decay of the population. Would this rate of decline be sufficient to meet the original goal?

Graphing Exponential Functions To graph an exponential function, use points corresponding to several doubling times (or half-lives, in the case of decay). Start at the point (0,Q0), the initial value at t = 0. For an exponentially growing quantity, the value of Q is 2Q0 (double the initial value) after one doubling time (Tdouble), 4Q0 after two doubling times (2Tdouble), 8Q0 after three doubling times (3Tdouble), and so on. For an exponentially decaying quantity, the value of Q falls to Q0/2 (half the initial value) after one half-life (Thalf), Q0/4 after two half-lives (2Thalf), Q0/8 after three half-lives (3Thalf), and so on.

Exponential Growth To graph exponential growth, first plot the points (0,Q0), (Tdouble,2Q0), (2Tdouble,4Q0), (3Tdouble,8Q0), and so on. Then fit a curve between these points, as shown to the right.

Exponential Decay To graph exponential decay, first plot the points (0,Q0), (Thalf,Q0/2), (2Thalf,Q0/4), (3Thalf,Q0/8), and so on. Then fit a curve between these points, as shown to the right.

Forms of the Exponential Function If given the growth or decay rate r, use the form If given the doubling time Tdouble, use the form Remind students that Q(sub-not) is simply the initial value and Q is the new value that we referred to back in Chapter 8. If given the half-life Thalf, use the form

Example 4 Suppose that, for a particular month in a particular country, the monthly rate of inflation is 0.8%. What is the annual rate of inflation? Is the annual rate 12 times the monthly rate? Explain.

Example 5: China’s Coal Consumption China’s rapid economic development has lead to an exponentially growing demand for energy, and China generates more than two-thirds of its energy by burning coal. During the period 2000 to 2012, China’s coal consumption increased at an average rate of 8% per year, and the 2012 consumption was about 3.8 billion tons of coal. a. Use these data to predict China’s coal consumption in 2020.

Example (cont) b. Make a graph projecting China’s coal consumption through 2050. Discuss the validity of the model.

Example (cont) Given China’s serious problems with pollution from coal burning and concerns about the impact of coal burning on global warming, it seems unlikely that such an enormous increase in coal consumption will really occur.

Example 6 Consider an antibiotic that has a half-life in the bloodstream of 12 hours. A 10-milligram injection of the antibiotic is given at 1:00 p.m. How much antibiotic remains in the blood at 9:00 p.m.? Draw a graph that shows the amount of antibiotic remaining as the drug is eliminated by the body.

Example (cont) Eight hours after the injection, 6.3 milligrams of the antibiotic remain in the bloodstream. Graphing this exponential decay function up to t = 100 hours, we see that the amount of antibiotic decreases steadily toward zero.

Example 7 The famous Allende meteorite lit up the skies of Mexico as it fell to Earth on February 8, 1969. Laboratory studies have shown that potassium-40 decays into argon-40 with a half-life of about 1.25 billion (1.25 × 109) years and that all the argon-40 in the meteorite must be a result of such decay. By comparing the amounts of the two substances in the meteorite samples, scientists determined that only 8.5% of the potassium-40 originally present in the rock remains today (the rest has decayed into argon-40). How old is the rock that makes up the Allende meteorite?

Changing Rates of Change Linear functions have straight line graphs and constant rates of change. Exponential functions have graphs that rise or fall steeply and have variable rates of change. Exponential growth functions have rates of change that increase. Exponential decay functions have rates of change that decrease.