Education Technology


Precalculus: Transformations of Exponential Functions

by Texas Instruments

Objectives

  • Students will explore the family of exponential functions of the form f(x) = c*bx+aand be able to describe the effect of each parameter on the graph of y = f(x)
  • Students will be able to determine the equation that corresponds to the graph of an exponential function.
  • Students will understand that a horizontal translation and a vertical stretch of the graph of an exponential function are essentially the same.

Vocabulary

  • exponential function
  • parameter
  • translation
  • reflection
  • vertical shift

About the Lesson

This lesson involves the family of exponential functions of the form f(x) = c*bx+a 

As a result students will:

  • Manipulate sliders, and observe the effect on the graph of the corresponding exponential function.
  • Conjecture and draw conclusions about the effect of each parameter on the graph of the exponential function.
  • Compare horizontal translation and vertical stretch and manipulate equations to demonstrate they are the same.v
  • Match specific exponential functions with their corresponding graphs.