This exponential function y = 3(2)x + 4 represents the growth of a certain species of animal in a specific area. The y-axis repr
esents the number of that animal present and the x-axis represents years. What can you say about the growth of the population of the species every year? A) The growth rate doubles each year. B) The growth rate triples each year. C) The growth rate increases by 2 each year. D) The growth rate increases by 5 each year.
Because it is an exponential function, we know it goes up by a factor of the base of the exponential for each year. Since 2 is the base of the exponential, we know it goes up by a factor of 2 (otherwise known as doubling).
