If you really want the base to be negative you need it to be in parentheses.r0bHadz said:Homework Statement
-2^x = y
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
When I plug this function in my graphing calculator, it appears to be 2^x reflected across the x axis.
This doesn't make sense to me. For example, for x values of 1 and 2, the value of y is not on the same half of the graph.
Why is the graph then a reflection of 2^x?
wooooww -_- i can't believe this right now. thanks mate lol.SammyS said:If you really want the base to be negative you need it to be in parentheses.
(−2)^x
What you graphed was y = −(2^x)
YoungPhysicist said:Just a quick note here, computing questions with negative base of any kind won’t work on a graphing calculator, for instance:
$$(-2)^x= 16$$
Though we all know the answer is x=4, it will throw an exception.
An exponential function with a negative base is a mathematical function of the form y = a^x, where a is a negative number. This means that the base, or the number being raised to a power, is negative.
The main difference is that an exponential function with a negative base will alternate between positive and negative values as the exponent increases, while an exponential function with a positive base will always result in positive values.
Yes, an exponential function with a negative base can have a negative exponent. This will result in a fraction as the answer, with the numerator being 1 and the denominator being the value of the function with the positive exponent.
To graph an exponential function with a negative base, you can use a table of values to plot points and then connect them with a smooth curve. Alternatively, you can use a graphing calculator or software to plot the function.
Exponential functions with negative bases can be used to model situations such as radioactive decay, population decline, or the decrease in value of an asset over time. They can also be used in finance to calculate compound interest or growth rates with a negative percentage.