SOLUTION: Evaluate the exponential equation for three positive values of x, three negative values of x, and at x=0. Show your work. Use the resulting ordered pairs to plot the graph; State t

Algebra ->  Logarithm Solvers, Trainers and Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Evaluate the exponential equation for three positive values of x, three negative values of x, and at x=0. Show your work. Use the resulting ordered pairs to plot the graph; State t      Log On


   

Question 267984: Evaluate the exponential equation for three positive values of x, three negative values of x, and at x=0. Show your work. Use the resulting ordered pairs to plot the graph; State the equation of the line asymptotic to the graph (if any).
y=3^(x-4)
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
For the "Evaluate the exponential equation...", just use your calculator. Many calculators now support parentheses so it should be easy to do this part.

As for the asymptotic line, powers of a positive number like 3 can never be zero or negative regardless of the exponent. (Remember, 3%5E0+=+1 and 3 to a negative power is NOT negative, it is a reciprocal. (e.g. 3%5E%28-3%29+=+1%2F3%5E3+=+1%2F27)) So you should not get any y values that are zero or negative. y is zero on the x-axis and it is negative below the x-axis so there are no points on or below the x-axis. So the x-axis (y=0 is the equation for the x-axis) is an asymptote for this graph.

Here's what the graph should look like:
graph%28400%2C+400%2C+-2%2C+10%2C+-2%2C+10%2C+3%5E%28x-4%29%29
NOTE: It may look like this graph touches the x-axis. It does not. Algebra.com's graphing software is not perfect.