exponential

(noun)

any function that has an exponent as an independent variable

Related Terms

Examples of exponential in the following topics:

  • Exponential Growth and Decay

    • Exponential decay occurs in the same way, providing the growth rate is negative.
    • If $\tau > 0$ and $b > 1$, then $x$ has exponential growth.
    • If $\tau<0$ and $b > 1$, or $\tau > 0$ and $0 < b < 1$, then $x$ has exponential decay.
    • This graph illustrates how exponential growth (green) surpasses both linear (red) and cubic (blue) growth.
    • Apply the exponential growth and decay formulas to real world examples

  • The Natural Exponential Function: Differentiation and Integration

    • Now that we have derived a specific case, let us extend things to the general case of exponential function.
    • Here we consider integration of natural exponential function.
    • Note that the exponential function $y = e^{x}$ is defined as the inverse of $\ln(x)$.

  • Derivatives of Exponential Functions

    • The derivative of the exponential function is equal to the value of the function.
    • The importance of the exponential function in mathematics and the sciences stems mainly from properties of its derivative.
    • If a variable's growth or decay rate is proportional to its size—as is the case in unlimited population growth, continuously compounded interest, or radioactive decay—then the variable can be written as a constant times an exponential function of time.
    • Graph of the exponential function illustrating that its derivative is equal to the value of the function.

  • Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

    • Both exponential and logarithmic functions are widely used in scientific and engineering applications.
    • The exponential function is widely used in physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematical biology, economics and mathematics.
    • The exponential function arises whenever a quantity grows or decays at a rate proportional to its current value.
    • The exponential function $e^x$ can be characterized in a variety of equivalent ways.
    • The derivative (or slope of a tangential line) of the exponential function is equal to the value of the function.

  • Taylor Polynomials

    • The exponential function (in blue) and the sum of the first 9 terms of its Taylor series at 0 (in red).

  • Predator-Prey Systems

    • The prey are assumed to have an unlimited food supply, and to reproduce exponentially unless subject to predation; this exponential growth is represented in the equation above by the term $\alpha x$.
    • $\gamma y$ represents the loss rate of the predators due to either natural death or emigration; it leads to an exponential decay in the absence of prey.

  • Taylor and Maclaurin Series

    • The exponential function (in blue) and the sum of the first $n+1$ terms of its Taylor series at $0$ (in red) up to $n=8$.

  • Essential Functions for Mathematical Modeling

    • This is essentially exponential growth based on a constant rate of compound interest: $P(t)=P_0e^{rt}$ where $P_0=P(0)=\text{initial population}$, $r$ is the growth rate, and $t$ is the time.
    • The graph illustrates how exponential growth (green) surpasses both linear (red) and cubic (blue) growth.

  • Logistic Equations and Population Grown

    • More quantitatively, as can be seen from the analytical solution, the logistic curve shows early exponential growth for negative $t$, which slows to linear growth of slope $\frac{1}{4}$ near $t = 0$, then approaches $y = 1$ with an exponentially decaying gap.

  • Power Series

    • The exponential function (in blue), and the sum of the first $n+1$ terms of its Maclaurin power series (in red).