This is a free lesson from our course in Algebra II
This lesson explains how to solve the real-world exponential growth and decay problems. Exponential decay is generally applied to word problems that involve financial applications as well as those that deal with radioactive decay, medicine dosages, and population decline. To decay exponentially means that the topic being studied is decreasing in proportion to the amount that was previously present. This type of problem requires that you write an exponential decay function based on given information. You must then correctly substitute given values for variables and solve the equation you obtain. In solving the equation you must convert the exponential equation to a log equation and correctly use various properties of logarithms. At the conclusion of the problem, you should always check for the reasonableness of your solution.
(More text below video...)
(Continued from above)
In order to solve
such problems, remember to:
• know how to solve an exponential equation
• know the properties of logarithms
• know how to analyze and understand the problem
• write and solve an equation for the problem. Exponential functions are of the form y = ax
+ b, where a is any real constant. It illustrates how to solve
the word problems for which the half-life is given using the formula
A = A0ekt,
where A is the amount/quantity left after t years, A0 is the
initial amount, t is the number of years and k is the decay constant.
Simply to say, look at exponential function x3, where 3 is the
base and x is the exponent and the latter is variable. The general exponential
function for x = 1.2, looks like: f(1.2) = 1.276 1.2. The formula developed
from defined functions application can be used to solve related word problems.
Winpossible's online math courses and tutorials have gained rapidly popularity since
their launch in 2008. Over 100,000 students have benefited from Winpossible's courses...
these courses in conjunction with free unlimited homework help serve as a very effective
math-tutor for our students.
-
All of the Winpossible math tutorials have been designed by top-notch instructors
and offer a comprehensive and rigorous math review of that topic.
-
We guarantee that any student who studies with Winpossible, will get a firm grasp
of the associated problem-solving techniques. Each course has our instructors providing
step-by-step solutions to a wide variety of problems, completely demystifying the
problem-solving process!
-
Winpossible courses have been used by students for help with homework and by homeschoolers.
-
Several teachers use Winpossible courses at schools as a supplement for in-class
instruction. They also use our course structure to develop course worksheets.
