The correct statement is:
Austin should compare the steepness of the curves. The growth rate of f(x)=1.3^x will quickly surpass the growth rate of g(x)=1.3x.
This is because \( f(x) = 1.3^x \) is an exponential function which grows significantly faster than the linear function \( g(x) = 1.3x \) as \( x \) increases. The exponential function will eventually surpass the linear function, leading to a greater growth rate as \( x \) becomes larger.