Exponential Growth, Decay and Compound Interest Cheat Sheet

This week in small group algebra 2, the plan is to finish up our exponential functions unit so that we can squeeze in projectile motion next week before starting final exam review the week after. It'll be tight, but that's the goal! Hard to believe there are only a few weeks left.

We started our exponential functions unit learning how to graph exponential functions by building tables, identifying a and b given a table, and writing the equations of exponential graphs with the y-intercept and f(1) highlighted.

We then moved on to compound interest compounding annually, then compounding more often. Today students started a compound interest escape room that covers compounding annually, quarterly, monthly, and daily. The escape room also comes as self-checking digital, but we used the printable version. It's more forgiving and keeps students offline.

This afternoon, I made students this exponential functions cheat sheet that they can use as we finish up the escape room, exponential decay, and on their upcoming quiz as an IEP accommodation.

For decay, I may also give students this friendly percents reference depending on how things go. We may just stick with (1 - r), but I'd like them to have another perspective for finding the base of decay functions.

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