Question

The table below represents a function.

x
1
2
3
4
5
y
1
16
64
256
1,024

Which statement would best describe the graph of the function?
The graph is a straight line that has a slope of 8.
The graph is a horizontal line at y = 16.
The graph starts flat but curves steeply upward.
The graph is a parabola that opens upward.

Answer 1

"The graph starts flat but curves steeply upward."

Reason: the y-values grow multiplicatively (each term is about 4 times the previous), so the function shows exponential growth—it's not linear or horizontal and the differences are not those of a parabola.