Exponential Growth and Decay

Exponential Growth --> When x = 0 and a > 1
Exponential Decay --> When x = 0 and 0 < a <1


Formula: Pa^x


P = Principle
a = Amount


Example: 


The population of India was approximately 1030 million in 2001 and was 865 million a decade earlier. What will the population be in 2006 if it continues to grow exponentially at the same rate?


865a^5 = 1030


a^5 = 1030
                  
           863


a^5 = 1.19


⁵√a = ⁵√1.19


a = 1.04


865 (1.04)^10 = 1280 million in 2006