Section 9-5
Exponential Functions
The "basic" exponential function is the function
where a is some positive constant.
For example, the graph of y = 2x looks like this:

Note that:
1) The y-intercept is 1 (no matter what the value of a is).
2) The graph approaches the x-axis asymptotically as x goes to negative infinity (or as x goes to positive infinity, if 0 < a < 1).
3) The graph is always positive (never zero or negative).
The exponential function can be shifted k units upwards and h units to the right with the equation:
Example:
Graph the equation.

Start with the "basic" exponential graph y = 2x. Then shift the graph three units to the right and two units up.
