How Do You Solve a Word Problem with Exponential Decay?

How Do You Solve a Word Problem with Exponential Decay?

Note:

If something decreases in value at a constant rate, you may have exponential decay on your hands. In this tutorial, learn how to turn a word problem into an exponential decay function. Then, solve the function and get the answer!

Keywords:

  • problem
  • word
  • decay
  • exponential
  • exponential decay
  • exponential function

Background Tutorials

  • Find a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole, given a part and the percent.

      • What's a Percent?What's a Percent?

      What's a Percent?

      Sales tax, tips at restaurants, grades on tests... no matter what you do, you can't run away from percents. So watch this tutorial and see once and for all what percents are all about!

  • Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).

      • How Do You Evaluate an Algebraic Expression?How Do You Evaluate an Algebraic Expression?

      How Do You Evaluate an Algebraic Expression?

      Plugging variables into an expression is essential for solving many algebra problems. See how to plug in variable values by watching this tutorial.

      • What is a Variable?What is a Variable?

      What is a Variable?

      You can't do algebra without working with variables, but variables can be confusing. If you've ever wondered what variables are, then this tutorial is for you!

      • What's the Order of Operations?What's the Order of Operations?

      What's the Order of Operations?

      Check out this tutorial where you'll see exactly what order you need to follow when you simplify expressions. You'll also see what happens when you don't follow these rules, and you'll find out why order of operations is so important!

  • Use the properties of exponents to transform expressions for exponential functions.

      • What's an Exponential Function?What's an Exponential Function?

      What's an Exponential Function?

      Looking at an equation with a variable in the exponent? You have an exponential function! Learn about exponential functions in this tutorial.

Further Exploration

  • Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems. Include equations arising from linear and quadratic functions, and simple rational and exponential functions.

      • How Do You Solve a Word Problem with Exponential Growth?How Do You Solve a Word Problem with Exponential Growth?

      How Do You Solve a Word Problem with Exponential Growth?

      If something increases at a constant rate, you may have exponential growth on your hands. In this tutorial, learn how to turn a word problem into an exponential growth function. Then, solve the function and get the answer!