How do you rewrite f(t)=(1.1)^t-3?

Question

It’s asking whether it’s exponential growth or decay.

Answer 1

Piggybacking on Michael's answer, when something grows, every period's population is > 100% of the previous. If it decays, it's < 100%.

For example, if a starting population of 100 grows by 10% every year, each year's population is 110% of the year before...

100(1.1)^t

If the same starting population shrinks 10% every year, each year's population is 90% of the year before...

100(0.9)^t

So, as stated by Michael, if the base is >1, you have growth. If the base is < 1, you have decay.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

If the base is >1, in this case 1.1, and the exponent is positive, then the function is growth.