A Deeper Look at Exponential Functions
Resources for this lesson:
> Glossary 
> Calculator Resources
> Teacher Resources: Instructional Notes
In this lesson, you will revisit a familiar function family – the exponential function. You will review your prior understanding of this function family to find a curve of best fit for real-world data.
Let’s begin with a simple data set.
Khalid wants to study the rate at which a certain bacteria grows in a closed container of milk. Khalid records the number of bacteria that are present in a closed container of milk every five minutes for a period of 25 minutes. The data collected is below.
Time (minutes) |
0 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Bacteria |
30 |
34 |
40 |
45 |
52 |
60 |
Create and Analyze
Create a scatter plot and determine which function type may be the best fit for the data set, using the Shodor Applet or using your graphing calculator. Visit the Calculator Resources section for information about how to use your calculator and alternative calculator resources for accessibility.
