5-4 Exp.

Growth and Decay

Unit 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Concepts and Objectives

Exponential Growth and Decay (Obj. #18)

Solve problems involving exponential growth and
decay.

Set up and solve exponential variation problems
using both common and natural logarithms.

Find half-life and doubling times.
Exponential Growth and Decay

The general equation of an exponential function is
y = abx
where a and b are constants.

Exponential growth occurs when b > 1.

Exponential decay occurs when 0 < b < 1.

The constant a is usually the starting value and b is the

percentage by which a is increasing or decreasing.
Exponential Growth and Decay

Example: In 2006, the population of a country was 70
million and growing at a rate of 1.9% per year.
Assuming the percentage growth rate remains constant,
express the population, P, of this country (in millions) as
a function of t, the number of years after 2006.

Starting quantity: 70
Growth rate: 1+0.019 = 1.019
Equation: P = 70(1.019)t
Exponential Growth and Decay

Example: A population of fish (P) starts at 8000 fish in
the year 2005 and decreases by 5.8% per year (t). What
is the predicted fish population in 2010?

Starting quantity: 8000

“Growth” rate: 1 – 0.058 = 0.942
Equation: P = 8000(0.942)t
In 2010 (t = 5): P = 8000(0.942)5
= 5934 fish
Exponential Growth and Decay

If the relationship is continuously growing or decaying,
the equation can be written
y = aekx,
where a and k are constants and e is the base of the
natural logarithm.

Exponential growth occurs when k > 0

Exponential decay occurs when k < 0

Exponential Growth and Decay

Example: World poultry production was 77.2 million
tons in the year 2004 and increasing at a continuous rate
of 1.6% per year (t). Estimate world poultry production
(P) in the year 2010.

Starting quantity: 77.2

Growth rate: 0.016
Equation: P = 77.2e0.016t
After 6 years: P = 77.2e(0.016)(6)
≈ 84.98 million tons
Exponential Growth and Decay

How are you supposed to know which equation to use?!?

If you are given a formula, you don’t have to worry
about it—just use the formula they give you.

If the problem uses the word “continuous” or
“continuously”, use the equation with e.

If the rate isn’t given (and you are not solving for the
rate), it doesn’t matter which version you use.

If you’re still not sure, use the general form of the
exponential equation.
Exponential Variation

Example: In a bacteria culture, there were 2000 bacteria
on Tuesday. On Thursday, the number has increased to
4500. Predict the number of bacteria that will be in the
culture next Tuesday.

Our starting quantity is 2000, and our starting time is

Tuesday. Thursday is 2 days away. This means that
2000b2 = 4500
4500
b2 =
2000
b = 2.25 = 1.5
Exponential Variation

Example (cont.):

Thus, our equation is

(
C = 2000 1.5t )
After 7 days, there should be
(
C = 2000 1.57 )
≈ 34172 colonies
Exponential Variation

Example (cont.):
If we had wanted to use the natural log equation (e), it
would have worked much the same way:
k ( 2)
2000e = 4500 C = 2000e ( )( )
0.4055 7

4500 ≈ 34172 colonies

e =
2k

2000
ln e2k = ln2.25
2k = ln2.25
ln2.25
k= ≈ 0.4055
2
Half-Life and Doubling Time

Half-life refers to the length of time it takes for an
exponential decay to reach half of its starting quantity.

Doubling time refers to the length of time it takes for an
exponential growth to reach double its starting quantity.

Both of these problems are actually worked the same

way. Use the general equation unless the rate is
continuous; in that case, you would use the equation
with e. To find the half-life (or doubling time), let a = 1
and set the equation equal to ½ (or 2) and solve for t.
Half-Life and Doubling Time

Example: Find the half-life of
(a) tritium, which decays at a rate of 5.471% per year

Since our decay rate is 0.05471, b will be 1–0.05471, or

0.94529.
1
0.94529 =t

2
log0.94529t = log0.5
t log0.94529 = log0.5
log0.5
t= ≈ 12.32 years
log0.94529
Half-Life and Doubling Time

Example: Find the half-life of
(b) a radioactive substance which decays at a continuous
rate of 11% per minute.

“Continuous” means we must use the e equation.

Because this decays, our rate, 0.11, is negative.
−0.11t 1
e =
2
ln e −0.11t = ln0.5
−0.11t = ln0.5
ln0.5
t= ≈ 6.30 minutes
−0.11
Half-Life and Doubling Time

Example: If the half-life of 600 g of a radioactive
substance is 3 years, how much of the substance will be
present after 6 years?

Since the rate isn’t mentioned, it really doesn’t matter

which equation we use:
1 k ( 3) 1
b =
3
e =
2 2
b = 3 0.5 ln0.5
k=
( ) 3
6
 ln0.5 
600 0.5 = 150 g
3
  ( 6 )
600e  3 
= 150 g
Homework

College Algebra & Trigonometry

Page 475: 6-18 (evens), 27, 28, 33-36

Turn in: 8, 12, 18, 28, 34, 36

Functions Modeling Change (handout)

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Turn in: 19c