1. The table shows the number of wild strawberry plants in a particular forest t years after a forest fire. Use a graphing calculator to find the exponential function that best fits the set of data.

Question

Number of Wild Strawberry Plants

years | wild strawberry plants
0 34
1 136
2 544
3 2176
4 8704
5 34816

the answer is: S = 34(4)t

how am I supposed to be able to figure out the answer?

thanks!

34 * 4 = 136. The same relationship continues each year, so for t years, it would be 34(4)t.

This was found without the use of a calculator.

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.

I mean, how would I figure it out if I didn't already know the answer?

Unfortunately, I do not have a graphing calculator, so I cannot help you there. Sorry.

I find it rather silly to have a question that asks for the use of a graphing calculator to find the equation of "best fit" when the data is exact and follows such an obvious pattern.

It follows a geometric sequence with the first term 34 and a common difference of 4

it is easy to see why the exponential equation has to be
No of Strawberries = 34(4)^time

graphing programs have built-in programs which allow for the data values to be entered as a matrix.

Since that varies from one calculator to the next, I don't think anybody can help your with the "how To" of that.

If you are using the texas Instrument series of calculator, you want to insert he numerical data point into the "List" section on your calculator... This is a yellow wording above one of your keys... enter the info here... Then go to stat, calc, expreg and let it do it's magic :-)

thanks