AP Precalc 2.

2 Change in Linear and Exponential Functions

Write your questions
and thoughts here! Linear Functions vs. Arithmetic Sequences 2.2 Notes
Slope-intercept form of a linear function Arithmetic Sequence

𝒇 𝒙 𝒃 𝒎𝒙 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝟎 𝒅𝒏

Initial Value 𝑎 or 𝑏. Constant rate of change 𝑑 or 𝑚.

When not starting with the initial value, we can transform the above equations by using the 𝑘th term. Our
arithmetic sequence is…

Point-slope form of a linear function Arithmetic Sequence with a known 𝒌th term

𝒇 𝒙 𝒚𝟏 𝒎 𝒙 𝒙𝟏 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒌 𝒅 𝒏 𝒌

The point 𝑥 , 𝑦 for a linear function is similar to the term 𝑘, 𝑎 of an arithmetic sequence.

Exponential Functions vs. Geometric Sequences

Exponential Function Geometric Sequence

𝒇 𝒙 𝒂𝒃𝒙 𝒈𝒏 𝒈 𝟎 𝒓𝒏

When not starting with the initial value, we can transform the above equations by using the 𝑘th term. Our
geometric sequence is

Shifted Exponential Function Geometric Sequence with a known 𝒌th term

𝒇 𝒙 𝒚𝟏 𝒓𝒙 𝒙𝟏
𝒈𝒏 𝒈𝒌 𝒓 𝒏 𝒌

The point 𝑥 , 𝑦 for an exponential function is similar to the term 𝑘, 𝑔 of a geometric sequence.

Domain
Remember the domain of a sequence won’t be the same as the domain of its corresponding function.
𝑔 2 1.3 𝑓 𝑥 2 1.3
y y

x x

The domain of this sequence is _______________ The domain of this function is ________________

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Write your questions Linear functions and exponential functions can both be expressed analytically in terms of an initial value
and thoughts here! and a constant involved with change. There is a difference between the two though. Linear functions are
based on addition. Exponential functions are based on multiplication.

Recognizing how to change the output values

Over equal-length input-value intervals, if the output values of a function change…

___________________, then the function is linear. (ADDING the SLOPE)

________________, then the function is exponential. (MULTIPLYING the RATIO)

A function has the following coordinate points. Could the function represent a linear function,
exponential function, or neither?
1. 2, 1 , 3, 4 , 4, 16 2. 5, 3 , 6, 7 , 7, 10 3. 3, 1 , 5, 7 , 7, 15

If we know a function is linear or exponential (for sequences that would be arithmetic or geometric), then
you only need two distinct values to come up with an equation (rule) for the function or sequence.

4. It is known that 𝑓 𝑥 is a linear function and that it passes through the points 3, 7 and 8, 1 . Write
an equation for this function.

5. It is known that 𝑓 𝑥 is an exponential function and that it passes through the points 2, 5 and
4, 12 . Write an equation for this function.

The following functions are either linear or exponential. Identify the constant (slope or ratio)
that causes the output values to change?
6. 𝑦 4 ⋅ 2 7. 𝑦 5𝑥 7

The following functions are either linear or exponential. Which is it? Justify your answer.
8. 9.
𝒙 3 7 11 𝒙 1 3 5
𝒇 𝒙 10 6 2 𝒇 𝒙 2 6 18

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2.2 Change in Linear and Exponential Functions
AP Precalculus
2.2 Practice
A function has the following coordinate points. Could the function represent a linear function, exponential
function, or neither?
1. 1,2 , 2,8 , 3,20 2. 3. 13,20 , 14,4 , 15, 4. 7,6 , 8,12 , 9,20
10,30 , 11,20 , 12,10

The following functions are either linear or exponential. Which is it? Justify your answer.
5. 6.

𝒙 1 5 9 𝒙 4 2 0
𝒇 𝒙 2 6 18 𝒇 𝒙 5 1 3

7. 8.

𝒙 7 10 13 𝒙 11 20 29
𝒇 𝒙 5 105 205 𝒇 𝒙 8 4 2

Is each function linear or exponential. Identify the constant (slope or ratio) that causes the output values to
change?
9. 𝑦 ⋅7 10. 𝑦 4𝑥 6 11. 𝑦 2 9𝑥 12. 𝑦 ⋅

13. 𝑦 7 5 𝑥 4 15. 𝑦 5 ⋅2 16. 𝑦 6 3 𝑥 10

14. 𝑦 1

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 It is known that 𝒇 𝒙 is a linear function and that it passes through the given points. Write an equation for this
function.
17. 1, 4 and 3, 10 18. 4, 15 and 10, 3 19. 10, 2 and 13, 5

It is known that 𝒇 𝒙 is an exponential function and that it passes through the given points. Write an equation
for this function.
20. 1, 4 and 3, 10 21. 4, 15 and 10, 3 22. 10, 2 and 13, 5

2.2 Change in Linear and Exponential Functions 2.2 Test Prep

23. Mr. Brust has been collecting He-Man figures for 40 years. The number of figures he owns can be modeled by an
arithmetic sequence, where the first year is year 1. The number of figures in year 5 was 12, and the number of
figures in year 20 was 167. How many He-Man figures did he have in year 14?

24. Calculator active. Mr. Bean has lots of siblings and lots of nephews and nieces. The number of people in his family
can be modeled using a geometric sequence, where the first generation is generation 1. The number of people after
generation 2 is 52. The number of people after generation 4 is 468. How many people will be in the Bean family
after generation 6?

25. The third term of a sequence is 5, and the fifth term of the sequence is 20. Of the following, which statement is true?

(A) If the sequence is arithmetic, the first term could be 25?

(B) If the sequence is arithmetic, the fourth term could be 7.5?

(C) If the sequence is geometric, the fourth term could be 7?

(D) If the sequence is geometric, the sixth term could be 40?

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