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Exponentials

An exponential function is a function that looks like tex2html_wrap_inline368 where a is some positive number. These functions are monotonic (this means that they are always either increasing or decreasing; they never change from one to the other), and have no zeros. The number a is called the base. If 0 < a < 1 then the function decreases in x, and if a > 1 the function increases. One of the most common exponential functions involves the natural exponent, e, which has a bizarre irrational value.

Exponential functions have the following properties.

  1. tex2html_wrap_inline382
  2. tex2html_wrap_inline384
  3. tex2html_wrap_inline386
  4. tex2html_wrap_inline388
  5. tex2html_wrap_inline390 , and tex2html_wrap_inline392
  6. tex2html_wrap_inline394


Vector Calculus
Wed Sep 17 14:50:13 MST 1997