The pattern of the number of mice tripling each year can be represented by an exponential function. Specifically, if you let \( N(t) \) represent the number of mice at time \( t \) (in years), and if you start with an initial population \( N_0 \), the function can be expressed as:
\[ N(t) = N_0 \cdot 3^t \]
Here, \( N_0 \) is the initial number of mice, \( 3^t \) indicates that the population triples every year (as the base, 3, indicates the tripling), and \( t \) is the number of years that have passed. This is a classic example of exponential growth.