Reading Questions over Section 3.3                   Name ________________________________________
Come to class with the following completed.

1. The word parameter is first introduced in Section 1.5 on page 35.
Which is true about the parameter b for the exponential function y = ab^x? (Select ALL possible answers)
    o  It is the growth factor.
    o  It is the average rate of change.
    o  It determines whether the graph is increasing or decreasing
    o  It affects how steep the graph climbs or falls.
  
2. For the exponential function y = ab^x, what does the parameter a tell you?

3. The definition of a horizontal asymptote is given in this section in the blue box on page 124.
Read this box, and the discussion preceding it, about the horizontal line Q = 0.
     What notation is used to indicate values of x which become large and negative?  _____________
     What notation is used to indicate values of x which become large and positive?  _____________

4. Examples 2 and 3 show how to solve exponential functions graphically.
   After you read these examples, solve the equation 2300(1.12)^t =10⁶ graphically.
   (Recall y =2300(1.12)^t gives the account balance of my son's investment started on the day of his birth.)
   Report the solution accurate to two decimal places: ___  ___ .  ___  ___