Plotting Exponential Graphs

Amanda Austin
www.drfrost.org
@DrFrostMaths

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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite Representations
Knowledge Used Future Links
• Substituting into • Table of values • Properties of
expressions and • Coordinate grid exponential graphs
formulae containing • Determining the
powers equation of an
• Plotting linear graphs exponential graph
by completing a table • Modelling with
of values exponential graphs
• Plotting curved graphs
by completing a table
of values

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Skills in this Lesson
423 Plotting exponential graphs
423a Complete a table of values for an exponential graph with equation for
positive integer
423b Complete a table of values for an exponential graph with equation for
positive integers and
423c Complete a table of values for an exponential graph with equation for
positive integer

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Skills in this Lesson
423 Plotting exponential graphs
423d Complete a table of values for an exponential graph with equation for
fractional
423e Plot an exponential graph using a completed table of values.

423f Plot exponential graphs of the form

423g Complete a table of values and plot the corresponding exponential graph.

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Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Prerequisite Knowledge Check

Recap: Plotting Curved Graphs

The Big Idea: Graphs of Exponential Growth

Completing Tables of Values for Graphs of Exponential Growth

Plotting Graphs of Exponential Growth

The Big Idea: Graphs of Exponential Decay

Completing Tables of Values for Graphs of Exponential Decay

Plotting Graphs of Exponential Decay

Exercise: Plotting Exponential Graphs

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 Show

Prerequisite Knowledge Check all

solutio
ns

1 Given that and , use your 3 a Complete the table of

calculator to evaluate: values for

a 𝑎
3
𝟓𝟏𝟐
? e 𝑐4 𝟏
?
𝟐𝟓𝟔
𝟏 ? ? ? ? ?
b 𝑏
−5
?𝟑𝟐 𝑎
𝟏𝟐𝟖𝟎
f 5 ×2 ?
b Plot the graph of
?
2
c 3𝑎 𝟏𝟗𝟐 𝟐 𝑦
g 6×3
−𝑏
?𝟑
d 10
𝑏
?
𝟏𝟎𝟎

2 Complete the table of

values for ?

? ? ? ?
𝑥
Recap: Plotting Curved Graphs
By completing the table of values given, plot the graph
with equation
𝑦

− 0.375 0 − 0.125 0 1.125 4 ×

Substitute
into the equation
×
× × × 𝑥
We plot each and
The first point
×𝑂
pair as a
coordinate point is

We join the points

together with a
This is the distinctive curved
smooth curve shape of a positive cubic
equation.
The Big Idea: Exponential Graphs

Look at this curved

𝑦
graph. Can you describe
what is happening to
the -value as the -value
increases? (3 ,8)
As the -value increases, the -
value also increases.
(2 , 4 )
If we add some
(1 , 2)
coordinates, can you
describe more 𝑥
specifically how the -
values increase?
As the -value increases by , the And we call this
-value doubles or multiplies by . type of graph an
exponential
When we have this graph. Mrs Clark
multiplicative increase, we
say a quantity is increasing
exponentially.
The Big Idea: Exponential Graphs
The general equation for 𝑦
This is
exponential growth is: the
graph of
𝒙
𝒚 =𝒌 × 𝒂
where and are positive (3 ,8)
constants and .
(2 , 4 )
These equations all (1 , 2)
produce graphs of 𝑥
exponential growth:
𝑥
𝑦 =0.35 × 10

( )
𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 =3 × 5 𝑦=
3 For and
2 , the value of is
Mrs Clark
𝑥
𝑦 =2500 × 1.05
The Big Idea: Exponential Graphs

Can you think of any

𝑦
examples of
exponential growth
that you have met
before, either in Maths
or other subjects?
a Population growth
b Compound
c
interest
Bacteria growth 𝑥

𝒙
𝒚 =𝒌 × 𝒂 When we have an initial
quantity that increases by
a multiplicative factor,
this is exponential Mrs Clark
Initial Multiplicative growth.
value factor
Example Test Your
Understanding
Complete the table of values Complete the table of values
for the graph with equation for the graph with equation

𝟏 𝟔 𝟑𝟔 𝟐𝟏𝟔 ? ? ? ?

Use your calculator to Complete the table of values

evaluate: for the graph with equation
0
When 𝑥=0 , 6 =1
When ? ? ? ?

When

When Show
all
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Comparing Tables
Look at the tables of values we’ve completed so
far. What do you notice?
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟔 For all of these exponential
graphs, when ,

In fact, all exponential

equations of the form pass
through
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟏𝟎 Can you explain why
this is the case?

Any number to the

𝒙
𝒚 =𝟓 power of zero is ,
so when , no
matter what the
value of in Mrs Clark
Spot the Mistake
Hannah has completed a table of values for the
graph of . What common mistake have they
made? What sort of graph would this produce?
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟑

Hannah
Hannah has found rather than raised to
? values would
the power of . These
produce a straight line graph of

𝒙
𝒚 =𝟑
Now
complete a
correct table ? ? ? ?
of values…
Example Test Your
Understanding
Complete the table of Complete the table of
values for the graph with values for the graph with
equation equation

𝟒 𝟏𝟐 𝟑𝟔 𝟏𝟎𝟖 ? ? ? ?
Evaluate, making sure to use the
correct order of operations:

When

When

When
Show
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Who is Correct?
Viktor and Basma have both completed a table
of values for . Whose table is correct? What
common mistake has been made?

𝒙 𝒙
𝒚 =𝟑 ×𝟐 Viktor Basma 𝒚 =𝟑 ×𝟐

Basma has correctly completed the table

of values for . Viktor has not used the
?
correct order of operations, and has
evaluated rather than
Plotting Exponential Graphs
Using the table of values given, plot the
graph with equation

×
We plot each and pair
as a coordinate point

The first point is

×
We join the points
together with a smooth ×
× 𝑥
curve 𝑂
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 423e
s/

Here is the table of values for the graph of the

equation . Which of these is the correct graph?

Reveal?

A𝑦 B𝑦 C𝑦
× This ×
The point The graph
graph is
has been should be
correct
plotted curved, not
incorrectly straight lines

× ×

×
× ×
×
× 𝑥 × 𝑥 × × 𝑥
𝑂 𝑂 𝑂
Plotting Exponential Graphs
By completing the table of values for , plot
the graph with equation

𝑦
𝟐 𝟔 𝟏𝟖 𝟓𝟒
×
0
𝑦 =2 ×3 =2× 1=2
We plot each and pair
as a coordinate point
×
The first point is ×
× 𝑥
𝑂
We join the points
together with a smooth
curve
 Show

Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 423g

s/
all
solutio
ns

By completing the table of values for , plot

the graph with equation

𝑦
? ? ? ?
×

Reveal Graph?

× ×
𝑂 𝑥
Comparing Exponential Graphs

What do you notice about these graphs and their

equations?
𝑦
As the Every time we
𝒙 increase the
multiplicativ 𝒚 =𝟒 -value by , we
e factor increase the
increases, the -value by the
?
steepness of 𝒙 multiplicative
𝒚 =𝟑 factor. So, the
the
bigger the
exponential multiplicative
graph also factor, the faster
𝒙
increases. 𝒚 =𝟐 the increase in ,
and the steeper
the curve.

𝑂 𝑥
Comparing Exponential Graphs

What do you notice about these graphs and their

equations?
𝒙
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟑 ×𝟐
These graphs 𝑦 𝒚 =𝟓 ×𝟐
cross the -axis
at different
points. If we
write as
then we
? can In general, a
see that the 𝒙 graph with
𝒚 =𝟐 equation
initial value
crosses the
tells us the - -axis at
intercept of
the graph.

𝑂 𝑥
Matching Pairs

Match the exponential graph with its

𝑦 equation.
A
B 𝑥
C 1 𝑦 =5 × 3 B

𝑥
2 𝑦 =2 D

𝑥
D 3 𝑦 =10 × 3 A

𝑥
4 𝑦 =3 C

Reveal?

𝑥
Deeper Thinking

Nathan is investigating what happens to the graph of for

negative values of . He has completed a table of values for
from to and plotted the graph.

𝑦
×

As gets
smaller, it What happens
looks like the to the graph as
curve gets gets smaller?
×
closer and
closer to the Exponential graphs of
the form tend towards
-axis… ×
the -axis in the
negative -direction. This
is called an asymptote
×
×
and will be investigated × × 𝑥
further in future 𝑂
lessons…
Nathan
Comparing Exponential Graphs
Nathan has now plotted the graphs of and
What do you notice? How do these graphs differ from
the previous exponential graphs?

𝑦 𝑦
( )
𝒙 𝒙
𝟐 𝒚 =𝟎 . 𝟒
𝒚=
𝟑
× ×

×
× ×
×
×
𝑥 ×𝑥
𝑂 𝑂

These exponential
graphs are These graphs show
decreasing as exponential decay where
increases as increases the value of
Nathan decreases
The Big Idea: Exponential Decay
Here are some graphs showing exponential growth and
decay. How can we tell whether an equation produces a
graph of exponential growth or exponential decay?

𝑦 𝑦 𝒚 =𝟑 .𝟔 𝒙𝑦 𝑦𝒚 =𝟖 ×
( )
𝒙
𝟕
𝒙 𝒚 =𝟏𝟎 ×𝟎 . 𝟓
𝒙 𝟐
𝒚 =𝟓 ×𝟐

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
( )
𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
× 𝟒𝒙
𝒚 =𝟓 × 𝒚=
( )
𝒙
𝒙 𝟒 𝟐 𝟐
𝒚 =𝟎 .𝟖 𝒚 =𝟔 ×
𝟑

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
The Big Idea: Exponential Decay
Exponential Exponential
Growth Decay
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟓 ×𝟐
𝒙 𝒚 =𝟑 .𝟔 𝒚 =𝟏𝟎 ×𝟎 . 𝟓
𝒙
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟎 .𝟖

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑦𝒚 =𝟖 × 𝑦
( )
𝒙
𝟕 𝑦 𝑦
( )
𝒙
𝟏 𝒙 𝟏
𝟐 𝒚= ×𝟒 𝒚 =𝟓 ×
𝟐
( )
𝒙
𝟒 𝟐
𝒚 =𝟔 ×
𝟑

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
In general, for where In general, for where
is positive: is positive:
 Deeper Thinking

For where is positive:

• When we get exponential growth
• When we get exponential decay

What happens when ? What happens when ?

𝑦 𝒙 𝑦 𝒙
𝒚 =𝒌 ×𝟏 𝒚 =𝒌 ×𝟎
𝑘

𝑥 𝑥

Since raised to any When ,

power is always , is
always equal to . We
When is undefined.
get a graph of the So, we get a graph
horizontal line of the half line of
Professor Cheng Dr Frost
Deeper Thinking

For where is positive:

• When we get exponential growth
• When we get exponential decay

What happens when is

𝑦 negative?

Here are the graphs of

and . How are the graphs
𝒙 related to each other?
𝒚 =𝟑 ×𝟐
𝑥
𝒙
𝒚 =−𝟑 ×𝟐
The graph of is a
reflection of the graph of
in the -axis. For more on
this, look at key skill
449… Dr Frost
Class Discussion
Hannah has plotted the graph of on her mini-whiteboard.

This is a Hold on!

decay When I plot
graph, so a
power of I get a graph
𝑦 𝒚 =𝟐
−𝒙
means of 𝑦
exponential
( )
−𝒙
exponential 𝟐
decay growth. How 𝒚=
𝟑
𝑥 can this be? 𝑥

We could also write

as or so the graphs of
and are the same. There
Hannah are two ways of writing
equations of exponential
decay… Imani

Professor Cheng
Comparing Growth and Decay
Exponential Exponential
Growth Decay
𝑦 𝑦

𝑥 𝑥

where is positive and where is positive and

OR OR

where is positive and where is positive and

The Big Idea: Exponential Decay
The general equation for 𝑦
exponential decay is:
−𝒙
𝒚 =𝒌 × 𝒂
where and are positive
constants and .

This can also be written as

𝑥
( )
𝒙
𝟏
𝒚 =𝒌 ×
𝒂

These equations all produce graphs of exponential

decay: −𝑥
−𝑥

( ) 𝑦 =2500 × 2.4
𝑥
𝑦 =50 × 2 𝑦=
2
𝑥 3
𝑦 =3 × 0.25
Example Test Your
Understanding
Complete the table of Complete the table of
values for the graph with values for the graph with
equation equation

𝟐 𝟒 𝟖
𝟏 𝟑 𝟗 𝟐𝟕
? ? ? ?

When

When

When

Show
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Example Test Your
Understanding
Complete the table of Complete the table of
values for the graph with values for the graph with
equation , giving your equation , giving your
answers to 2 decimal places answers to 2 decimal places
where necessary. where necessary.

𝟒 𝟏 𝟎.𝟐𝟓 𝟎.𝟎𝟔 ? ? ? ?

When

When

When

When Show
all
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 Show

Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 423g

s/
all
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By completing the table of values for ,

plot the graph with equation

𝑦
? ? ? ? ×

Reveal Graph?

×
× ×𝑥
𝑂
Plotting Exponential Graphs
By completing a table of values for ,
plot the graph with equation

Here we are plotting an 𝑦

exponential graph of the
form ×

𝟑𝟓 𝟗 𝟏𝟕
×
When
×
×

𝑂 𝑥
Plotting Exponential Graphs
By completing a table of values for ,
plot the graph with equation

𝑦
How does this equation ×
differ from the previous
one?

𝟓 𝟕 𝟏𝟏 𝟏𝟗 ×

When
×
×

How does this graph

differ from the previous
𝑂 𝑥
one?
 Show

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s/
all
solutio
ns

By completing a table of values for ,

plot the graph with equation

𝑦
? ? ? ? ×

Reveal Graph?
×

×
×

𝑂
𝑥
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Complete the tables of values for each of the equations

shown, rounding your values to 3 decimal places when
required:
𝑥
a 𝑦 =4

? ? ?

( )
𝑥
b 5
𝑦 =2 ×
2
? ? ? ?
−𝑥
c 𝑦 =8

? ? ?
−𝑥
d 1
𝑦 = × 10
2
? ? ? ?
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

2 Use the table of values from 3 Use the table of values from
questions 1a and 1b, plot the questions 1c and 1d, plot the
graphs of and graphs of and

? 𝒙 −𝒙 ?
𝒚 =𝟒 𝒚 =𝟖 Reveal
Reveal
Graphs Graphs

𝟏
𝒚= ×𝟏𝟎− 𝒙
𝟐

( )
𝒙
𝟓
𝒚 =𝟐 ×
𝟐

𝑥 𝑂
𝑥
𝑂
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

4 [Edexcel GCSE Nov 2016 1H

Q17]
a Complete the table of
values for
? ? ? ?

b On the grid, draw

the graph of for
values of from to

?
Reveal
Graph
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

5 By completing the tables of values, plot the graphs of and

for values of from to

( ) +𝟏𝟎
𝒙
𝟑
𝒚 =𝟐 ×
a 𝑦 =4 − 1
𝑥
𝟐

? ? ? ?

( ) +10
𝑥
3
b 𝑦 =2 ×
2
𝒙
𝒚 =𝟒 −𝟏
? ? ? ?

? Reveal Graphs 𝑥
𝑂
 (Available as a separate
Exercise worksheet)

 On the same axes, plot the graphs of and

for values of from to . What do you notice?

𝒙
Each graph 𝒚 =𝟐 +𝟏
moves two
𝒙
units in the
? 𝒚 =𝟐 −𝟏
positive
-direction from 𝒙
𝒚 =𝟐 −𝟑
the previous
graph.

𝑂
𝑥