Pronunciation key

( ek′spō-nen′shəl )

ex•po•nen•tial

adj.

Algebra. Containing or expressed in terms of powers, the base of natural logarithms. Relating to exponents; especially when involving variable or unknown quantities as an exponent.

—ex′po•nen′tial•ly adv.

Exponential Equation

An equation which expresses a relationship when the dependent variable is an exponential function of the independent variable.

Exponential Function

A function of the form

y = a^x

with a as any positive number. The graph of the exponential function crosses the y axis at (0,1) and to the right of the y axis its height increasingly rises, rapidly. To the left of the y axis the graph approaches the x axis as an asymptote. An exponential function is an inverse function of the logarithmic function. A particularly useful exponential function is that which the constant a has the value e that is approximately 2.71828. Exponential functions have many professional applications such as for business, especially in connection with the phenomena of growth and decay.