SOLUTION: Tutors I need your help!! I need to graph this function f(x) =5^x

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Question 143189: Tutors I need your help!! I need to graph this function f(x) =5^x
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
f%28x%29=5%5Ex Start with the given expression
In order to plot an exponential function, we need to plot some points
We can start at any x value, so lets start at x=-1

f%28-1%29=5%5E%28-1%29 Plug in x=-1

f%28-1%29=1%2F5 Raise 5 to the negative first power to get 1%2F5 or 0.2

So when x=0, y=0.2. So our first point is (-1,0.2)


----Now lets find another point----

f%280%29=5%5E0 Plug in x=0

f%280%29=1 Raise 5 to the zeroth power to get 1

So when x=0, y=1. So our second point is (0,1)


----Now lets find another point----
f%281%29=5%5E1 Plug in x=1

f%281%29=5 Raise 5 to the first power to get 5

So when x=1, y=5. So our third point is (1,5)


----Now lets find another point----
f%282%29=5%5E2 Plug in x=2

f%282%29=25 Raise 5 to the second power to get 25

So when x=2, y=25. So our fourth point is (2,25)



===============================================================================

Now lets make a table of the values we have calculated
xy
-10.2
01
15
225
Now plot the points



Connect the points to form the graph y=5%5Ex
Graph of y=5%5Ex through the points solved for earlier