Obj. 14 Exp.

Growth and Decay

Unit 4 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Concepts and Objectives

Exponential Growth and Decay (Obj. #14) 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: Growth rate: Equation: 70 1+0.019 = 1.019 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: Decay rate: Equation: In 2010 (t = 5): 8000 1 0.058 = 0.942 P = 8000(0.942)t 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: Growth rate: Equation: After 6 years: 77.2 0.016 P = 77.2e0.016t 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 dont have to worry about itjust use the formula they give you. If the problem uses the word continuous or continuously, use the equation with e. If the rate isnt given (and you are not solving for the rate), it doesnt matter which version you use. If youre 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:
2000e = 4500 4500 2k e = 2000 ln e2k = ln2.25 2k = ln2.25 ln2.25 k= 0.4055 2
k ( 2)

)( ) C = 2000e ( 34172 colonies

0.4055 7

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 (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 10.05471, or 0.94529. 1 t 0.94529 = 2 log0.94529t = log0.5 t log0.94529 = log0.5 log0.5 12.32 years t= 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. 1 0.11t e = 2 ln e 0.11t = ln0.5 0.11t = ln0.5 ln0.5 6.30 minutes t= 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 isnt mentioned, it really doesnt matter which equation we use: 1 1 k ( 3) 3 b = e = 2 2 ln0.5 b = 3 0.5 k= 6 3 ln0.5 3 (6) 600 0.5 = 150 g 3 600e = 150 g

Homework
College Algebra & Trigonometry Page 475: 6-18 (evens), 27, 28, 33-36 HW: 8, 12, 18, 28, 34, 36 Functions Modeling Change (handout) Page 123: 15, 18, 19 HW: 15, 19c