Introduction to Exponential Relationships

What you’ll learn to do: Use an exponential model (when appropriate) to describe the relationship between two quantitative variables. Interpret the model in context.

A common nonlinear model that occurs in real life is an exponential model, which is characterized by having a constant factor (or multiplier) for each constant increase in the dependent variable.  Visually, the scatterplot of an exponential relationship should roughly follow a curve of one of these two shapes:

This is an example of an exponential growth graph that shows the red line curving up and to the right. It was created with Desmos and Spark Adobe.This is an example of an exponential decay graph that shows the red line from the upper left moving down and to the right. It was created with Desmos and Spark Adobe.

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