Chapter 5: Problem 22
Graph the pair of functions on the same set of axes. $$y=(1 / 3)^{x} ; y=3^{x}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Graph the functions to see \( y = 3^x \) increase and \( y = (1/3)^x \) decrease, both passing through \( (0, 1) \).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Functions
The two functions given are exponential functions. The first function is \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x \), and the second function is \( y = 3^x \). Both functions have a base of 3; however, the first function has a base that is the reciprocal of the base in the second function.
02
Identify Key Properties of Each Function
For \( y = 3^x \), as \( x \) increases, \( y \) increases because 3 is greater than 1. This function is an increasing exponential function. For \( y = (1/3)^x \), as \( x \) increases, \( y \) decreases because 1/3 is less than 1. This function is a decreasing exponential function.
03
Find Points to Plot
Calculate values for key points. For \( y = 3^x \), use points like \( x = -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 \) to calculate \( y \) as \( 1/9, 1/3, 1, 3, 9 \). Similarly, for \( y = (1/3)^x \), use the same \( x \)-values to find \( y \) as \( 9, 3, 1, 1/3, 1/9 \).
04
Plot the Functions on Axes
Begin by drawing the horizontal axis \( (x) \) and the vertical axis \( (y) \). Plot the points for each function: For \( y = 3^x \), plot \((-2, 1/9), (-1, 1/3), (0, 1), (1, 3), (2, 9)\). For \( y = (1/3)^x \), plot \((-2, 9), (-1, 3), (0, 1), (1, 1/3), (2, 1/9)\).
05
Draw the Curves
Using the plotted points, draw a smooth curve through the points for each function. The curve for \( y = 3^x \) should rise steeply as \( x \) increases, while the curve for \( y = (1/3)^x \) should fall steeply as \( x \) increases. Both curves will intersect at \( (0, 1) \).
06
Compare and Analyze the Graphs
Observe that \( y = 3^x \) is an increasing function and \( y = (1/3)^x \) is a decreasing function. Both are reflections of each other about the line \( y = x \) due to their reciprocal nature.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graphing Functions
Exponential functions like \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x \) and \( y = 3^x \) are fascinating to graph because they each exhibit unique growth behavior. These functions help us visualize how changing the base influences the function's direction of growth. A typical graphing process starts with drawing the axes:
- The horizontal axis represents the \( x \)-values, while the vertical axis represents the corresponding \( y \)-values.
- For \( y = 3^x \), as \( x \) increases, the \( y \)-value grows rapidly indicating an exponentially increasing graph.
- Conversely, \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x \) decreases as \( x \) increases since the base \( \frac{1}{3} \) is less than 1.
Inverse Functions
In the world of functions, an inverse reflects one function across the line \( y = x \), swapping each function's \( x \)- and \( y \)-values. In our exercise, \( y = 3^x \) and \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x \) are related in a special way. They serve as inverses of each other by flipping the base in the expression:
- The base of the increasing function \( y = 3^x \) is inverted to create the decreasing function \( \left( \frac{1}{3} \right) \).
- Because each function is the reciprocal of the other, their graphs symmetrically reflect over the line \( y = x \).
Plotting Points
Plotting points is a practical method to construct graphs of functions accurately. In our scenario, you need key values to plot exponential functions \( y = 3^x \) and \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x \):
- Select specific \( x \)-values like \(-2, -1, 0, 1, 2\) to compute \( y \).
- For \( y = 3^x\), the computed \( y \)-values are \( \frac{1}{9}, \frac{1}{3}, 1, 3, 9 \).
- For \( y = \left( \frac{1}{3} \right)^x\), the points flip, giving \( 9, 3, 1, \frac{1}{3}, \frac{1}{9} \).