Which one of the following scenarios can be modeled by an exponential function?

Question

the value of a tractor that loses value by $4000 each year
the value of a tractor that loses value by $4000 each year - no response given

the number of insects in a population that decreases by 1000 each week
the number of insects in a population that decreases by 1000 each week - incorrect

the size of a glacier that shrinks by 250 square feet every month
the size of a glacier that shrinks by 250 square feet every month - no response given

the volume of water in a puddle that decreases by 25% every six hours

Answer 1

The scenario that can be modeled by an exponential function is:

the volume of water in a puddle that decreases by 25% every six hours.

This scenario describes exponential decay because the volume is reducing by a percentage of its current volume over consistent time intervals, which is characteristic of exponential functions.

The other scenarios (the tractor losing a fixed value each year, the insects decreasing by a fixed number each week, and the glacier shrinking by a fixed area each month) involve linear decay rather than exponential decay, as they represent a constant decrease rather than a percentage decrease.