Education Technology


Algebra II: Exponential vs. Power

by Texas Instruments

Objectives

  • For positive values of x, students will identify the following behaviors of exponential and power functions:
    • For large (x>a) x-values, exponential functions of the form y =ax grow faster than power functions of the form = xa
    • For particular x-values, power and exponential functions can be equivalent
    • On certain intervals, power functions can have greater value than exponential functions

Vocabulary

  • Exponential function
  • Power function
  • Exponent
  • Base

About the Lesson

This lesson involves comparing rates of growth between the exponential function f(x)=ax and the power function g(x)=xa for positive x-values. As a result, students will:

  • Compare the discrete value of these functions for a = 2, 3, 4, and 5 as x moves along a number line from 1 to 5.
  • Compare the graphs of the functions for a = 2, 3, 4, and 5 as x moves along the x-axis.