Exercise 4 Page 305

Let's start by graphing the exponential function given in Exploration 1. This is f(x) = 16 (2)^x.

From this graph we can identify some general characteristics of exponential functions.

• As x takes bigger negative values, the function approaches 0.
• The domain of the function is all real numbers.
• The range of the function is all real numbers greater than zero.
• When x=0, the value of the function equals the coefficient multiplying the power, which in this case is f(0) = 16.