Week 13 — Readings & Resources · Exponential Functions

Course: College Algebra (MATH 120) · Silver Oak University (fictional sample) · Prof. Calloway
Objective covered: Objective 8 — Analyze and apply exponential and logarithmic functions and equations, including growth/decay models and compound interest.

How to use this page

Everything here is a link to an external resource — open it in your browser, the same way you'd open a YouTube link. Nothing needs to be downloaded.

This week's load is deliberately light: ~2 readings + ~2 videos, grouped by the lecture's four ideas. Read or watch one item per group and you're ready for the quiz; do all of them and you'll be very comfortable. Total time is roughly 40–55 minutes if you do everything, far less if you pick one per group.

Reading order that matches the lecture: ① define the function & evaluate → ② growth vs. decay → ③ graph features → ④ the natural base e & compound interest.

Holiday note: this is a short week (Thanksgiving Thu–Fri). The readings are essential prep — do them before Tuesday's class or immediately after, since you have more independent study time than usual.

A habit to carry forward: the AI tutorial this week ends by having you catch a chatbot's mistake on the y-intercept trap. Keep that posture as you read.

① Exponential Functions — Definition, Evaluating, Growth vs. Decay

Maps to Lecture Segments 2 & 3. The variable is the exponent; the base b decides whether the function grows or decays.

Reading — "Exponential Functions" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §6.1)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/6-1-exponential-functions
Why it's assigned: the cleanest formal introduction to f(x) = a·bˣ — conditions on b, evaluating at positive and negative x, the natural base e, and the compound-interest formulas, all with worked examples that match our Week 13 problems exactly.
⏱ ~15 min

② Graphs of Exponential Functions

Maps to Lecture Segment 4. Four features to read: y-intercept, horizontal asymptote y = 0, always-increasing or always-decreasing, always positive.

Reading — "Graphs of Exponential Functions" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §6.2)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/6-2-graphs-of-exponential-functions
Why it's assigned: the graph-features section we used in lecture, with the same growth/decay side-by-side comparison. Covers the y = 0 asymptote in detail and includes transformations (more than we need this week — focus on the base-case graphs).
⏱ ~12 min

③ Paul's Online Math Notes — Exponential Functions Reference

Maps to Lecture Segments 2–5. A tighter, example-driven summary if the OpenStax reading felt long — good second pass or a substitute for any section.

Reading — "Exponential Functions" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/ExpFunctions.aspx
Why it's assigned: a concise, example-rich page that walks through evaluating, growth/decay identification, and the key graph properties. Particularly good on the distinction between f(x) = bˣ (exponential) and f(x) = xᵇ (polynomial) — a trap Week 13 students frequently hit.
⏱ ~10 min

④ Video — Graphs of Exponential Functions (Professor Leonard)

Maps to Lecture Segment 4. For students who want to see the curves drawn and the features identified at the board.

Video — "Graphs of Exponential Functions" (Professor Leonard — College Algebra)
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w14jBb0e9Q
Why it earns the click: a thorough, unhurried walkthrough of exponential function graphs — why they have the shape they do, how to identify key points and the asymptote, and how to tell growth from decay visually. From Professor Leonard's College Algebra series (Precalculus 52).
⏱ longer lecture — skim to the sections on y-intercept and asymptote if you're short on time.

Optional one-stop references (free online)

If you'd like a reference to come back to for Weeks 13–15, Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra has both exponential and logarithm pages, and Professor Leonard's College Algebra playlist covers all Objective 8 topics in full.
🔗 Paul's Algebra notes: https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/alg.aspx
🔗 Professor Leonard — College Algebra / Trigonometry playlist: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDesaqWTN6ESsmwELdrzhcGiRhk5DjwLP
Why they're here: reputable, currently-available references you can return to in Weeks 14 and 15 — entirely optional this week.

Pick-one quick path (≈20 min total)

In a hurry? Do exactly these and you'll be ready for the quiz:
1. Read OpenStax §6.1 — Exponential Functions (groups ① and intro to e).
2. Read Paul's Notes — Exponential Functions (group ③) for the graph-features summary.
3. Skim Professor Leonard's video (group ④) — just the first 15 minutes on y-intercept and asymptote.

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell Prof. Calloway and use the Paul's Online Math Notes or Professor Leonard playlist references in the meantime.