Section 3.2 Comparing Exponential and Linear Functions

Given the following table: What type of function would be appropriate for modeling this data? –Hint: Compute the average rate of change for the intervals or make a scatter plot Let’s see if we can make a function for this data –What is the range and domain of our function? x f(x)f(x)

The number of asthma sufferers in the world was about 84 million in 1990 and 130 million in Let N represent the number of asthma sufferers (in millions) worldwide t years after –Write N as a linear function of t. What is the slope? What does it tell you about asthma sufferers? –Write N as an exponential function of t. What is the growth factor? What does it tell you about asthma sufferers? –Graph the two together. What do you notice?

Let’s compare the growth rate of linear and exponential functions –Plot f(x) = 5x + 20 and g(x) = 3(1.08) x on the same graph –Which is growing faster? In your groups do problems 19, 22, and 29