Construct a table of values for the function. (Round your answers to three decimal places.)

Question

f(x) = 3e^−1.3x

x	−2	−1	0	1	2
f(x)

Answer 1

Hi Josias,

I'm wondering what it might be about this problem that you're struggling with.

There are a few incidental facts that could be the source of confusion.

However, my BEST guess it that it's the "e" that's got you stuck.

The constant e, sometimes called Euler's number (Euler is pronounced Oil - er) is the base of the natural logarithm. It's an irrational number, like π. And like π, it was discovered in Nature, not made up.

(Although many students have a hard time accepting that.)

e ≈ 2.718, but if your calculator has a Natural Log (ln) button, it probably has an "e" button, too.

If your calculator doesn't have these buttons, just use 2.718.

(If you want more decimal digits, google it.)

I can't imagine any teacher asking his/her students to attempt this problem without a calculator.

While with a calculator, it's pretty straightforward.

Simply substitute the given values of x (-2, -1, 0, 1 & 2) into the expression and have the calculator evaluate.

If you have a graphing calculator, you can enter the expression as a function and look up all 5 answers in the table of value. (If you have a graphing calculator and don't know how to use it, LEARN.)

3e^-1.3(-2) ≈ 40.391

3e^-1.3(-1) ≈ 11.008

3e^-1.3(0) = 3.000 (The properties of exponents reveal a precise answer for this one.)

3e^-1.3(1) ≈ 0.818

3e^-1.3(2) ≈ .223

If you don't have a graphing calculator, you can find free websites that can emulate one.

I hope this helps.