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Exponential Growth & Decay 
Introduction
Explanation
 

Objectives 


Examples

     
A quantity that exhibits "exponential growth (or decay)" has the following fundamental property: 

 "the amount present at a particular time is 
proportional to the amount present at an earlier time."

Mathematicians have determined that we can express this property using function notation as follows:

In this formula, 

A(t)   represents the amount present at time t.

P   represents the initial amount.

r   represents the growth (or decay) rate.

t   represents the elapsed time.

e   represents the special "calculator number" used as the
     base for the natural logaritm.


In this lesson we will learn how to apply this formula to a variety of real world problems.

Note: When working the applied problems, It is essential that you have access to a scientific calculator that has the  key.