The Graphs of Exponential Functions

Today in class, we got into a group of 3 and we were told to make a graph an exponential equation.  Each group had a different exponent base. We were told to use a table of values with x values from -10 to 10 and find the y values and the plot the points.

We observed that sometimes the number would grow larger and sometimes the line wouldn’t move a lot. We realized that the numbers were growing larger and faster because it was a whole number and the line didn’t move a lot because it was a fraction.

Our group’s graph:                Group 5’s Graph:

Comparison:

We have all the same points but because of the positive and the negative exponent, it was mirrored. Our group’s exponent was negative and group 5’d exponent was positive.