Lesson 2.7.

1:
Building Functions
02/27/2015

Comparing Linear &

Exponential Functions
Linear Model

General Form
f(x)=mx+b
Meaning of
parameters

m is the slope of
the line or the
constant rate of
change
b is the y-intercept

Difference between There is a constant

consecutive ydifference between
values
consecutive yvalues
Example

Exponential
Model

( b) x
f(x)= a
a is the initial value
or y-intercept.
b is the base or
constant factor of
change
There a constant
factor between the
difference in the
consecutive yvalues

Difference between consecutive y-values

X
0
1

F(x)
3
33

G(x)

32
-11

30
1

363

33
0

3993

3630

The 1st difference between

consecutive y-values is not
constant SO this function is not
linear but exponential [f(x) =
ab^x ]

2
3

21
10
-1

-11
-11

The 1st difference

between consecutive yvalues is constant SO
this is a linear function
[f(x) = mx + b]

1.- Analyzing the consecutive 1st differences between y-values: 21-32=11; 10-21=-11; 10-(-1)=-11; -12-(-1)= -11 } we can see that there is a
constant difference (-11) between consecutive y-values which tell us that
the table is representing a linear function of the form f(x) = mx + b
we can eliminate option (d) since that is an exponential
function [f(x) = ab^x].
2.- We need to find the slope of the line, a.k.a, the rate of change which
is -11!!!!
3.- We could go all the way and find the y-intercept [given by the point
(0,y), but since we know the the type of function (linear) and the slope of
the line (-11) we can determine that, so far, our linear function looks like
f(x) = -11x +b , SO option (c) is the only alternative that reflects what we
found (in this case the slope of the line was the same as the 1 st
difference only because the x-values are increasing by 1 but in

1.- The difference between consecutive values of y is constant (20,000) so

we are in the presence of a linear function [f(x)=mx+b] so we can
eliminate options (c) and (d) since they are of the form f(x)=ab^x which
are Year
exponential
functions.
(x)
Value (y)
2.- the slope of the line, m= y2-y1/x2-x1
= 20,000.

200,00
0

220,00
0

3.- the y-intercept is where we have the

point (0,y) when x=0, y=200,000! The
initial value of the house.

240,00
0

4.- so, our function will be f(x)=

20,000x+200,000, which is option (b)

260,00
0

1.- Obviously here we are in

the presence of a linear
function [f(x)=mx+b]
eliminate option c!
2.- We could calculate the
slope of the line but lets get
smart. The function presents
a negative slope (-m) which
reduces our our options to
either (a) or (d)
3.- We can clearly see in the
graph that the y-axis gets
crossed at (0,3), y-intercept
=3
4.- Option (a) is the one that
has a negative slope and a
positive 3 as y-intercept

ANWERS:
1.- We will be ask to find one value with respect to another value. In general we talk
about the x-variable as the independent variable (like days, weeks, months, years, or
number of figures, etc), and the y-variable as the dependent one (this one will increase
or decrease with respect of the days, weeks, months, years, or numbers of figures )
2.- The slope or rate of change of an exponential function (called rate of grow when the
slope is +, and rate of decay when the slope is -), is faster (or bigger) than the rate of
change of a linear function. An exponential function will increase or decrease faster than
the increase or decrease of a linear function.
3.- Check the next slide!!

From the web:

Building Functions from

Context

1.- Identify the independent and

dependent quantities
2.- Make a table
3.- Find the type of difference between
consecutive y-values
4.- Determine type of function
5.- Write the function

 Example 1
1.- Identify the independent and dependent quantities: months!! The months

will pass independently of the money she has in her account.

2.- Make a table:
mo

nth
s

this amount!

1250

1220 =
1250-30

1190 = 1220
-30

She started with

3 of difference
1160 = between
1190
3.- Find the type
consecutive y-values: Easy, 30! The

problem says that she- takes

30 $30.00 each month!!
4.- Determine type of function: since the 1st difference between consecutive yvalues is constant ($30.00), then the function is linear!
5.- Write the function: f(x) = mx+b f(x) = 30x+1250

1.- Identify the independent and

dependent quantities
2.- Make a table
3.- Find the type of difference
between consecutive y-values
4.- Determine type of function
5.- Write the function

 Example 2
1.- Identify the independent and dependent quantities: the number of figures is the

independent quantity and the number of angles will be the dependent one
2.- Make a table

Figure
(x)

# of angles
(y)

16

3.- Find the type of difference between consecutive y-values: 4-2=2; 8-4=4; 16-8=8.
4.- Determine type of function: since the 1st difference between consecutive y-values

is not constant but increases then the function is not linear but exponential
[f(x)=ab^x]
5.- Write the function: analyzing the 1st differences I can see that each difference
was multiplied by 2, 2x2=4, 4x2=8, so the factor of increase is 2 b=2. Now a=yintercept which can be solved from the function: f(x)=ab^x; to solve for a we have
to isolate it! So we divide both sides of the equation by b^x f(x)/b^x = a; for x=1,
y=2, and b=2then a= 2/2^1 = 1!
Finally, the function is f(x)= ab^x = (1)(2^x)

Steps to build a function from scratch!

1.- Identify the independent and

dependent quantities
2.- Make a table
3.- Find the type of difference
between consecutive y-values
4.- Determine type of function
5.- Write the function