SOLUTION: Hello, i was just wondering if you could help me find out how to graph the function Y= -1.7(8)^x.

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Question 715651: Hello, i was just wondering if you could help me find out how to graph the function Y= -1.7(8)^x.
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One option is to build a table of values (pick a value for x and find its y and repeat), plot the points and then "connect the dots" with a smooth curve.

Another option, if you're just looking for just a pretty good sketch, is use use your knowledge of how exponential functions look in general and how transformations work. The graph of y+=+8%5Ex looks like most exponential functions. The "8", compared to smaller numbers, just makes it shoot up faster on the right and approach the x-axis faster on the left. (Note: On all of the graphs below, it looks like the graph touches the x-axis. This is just a flaw in Algebra.com's graphing software. None of these graphs actually touch the x-axis because the y-coordinates can never be zero. The graphs should look like they approach the negative (left) part of the x-axis as an asymptote.)
graph%28300%2C+300%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+8%5Ex%29 y+=+8%5Ex
The graph of y+=+-8%5Ex is the same except the "-" reflects the graph about the x-axis:
graph%28300%2C+300%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-8%5Ex%29 y+=+-8%5Ex
The graph of y+=+-1.7%2A8%5Ex is the same as the previous graph "1.7" stretches the graph vertically:
graph%28300%2C+300%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-5%2C+5%2C+-1.7%2A8%5Ex%29 y+=+-1.7%2A8%5Ex