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Graphing Exponential Functions

Sketch the graphs of y=2^{x} and y=2^{-x}

 

x y=2^x y=2^{-x}
-2 2^{-2}=\frac{1}{4} 2^{- -2}=2^2 =4
-1 2^{-1}=\frac{1}{2} 2^{--1}=2
0 2^0=1 2^{-0}=0
1 2^1=2 2^-1 =\frac{1}{2}
2 2^2=4 2^{-2}=\frac{1}{4}

Negative exponents are reduced into fractions. For example: 2^{-1}=\frac{1}{2^2}=\frac{1}{4}