Independent variable

Your second PA is another example of how your growing knowledge of how college
algebra will be useful to you in the future.
Exponential Functions Project

1. Select one of the following scenarios for your Project and complete steps 2-7 for full credit:
   ● You buy a new car that cost $25,000. The car depreciates at a rate of 11% per
   year.
   ● You put $7,500 into an investment account. The account is projected to earn 9%
   interest per year.
   ● The population of Kensington is currently 120,000 people. It is growing at a rate
   of 0.35% per year.
   ● The population of Camden, NJ is currently 180,000 people. People are moving
   out at a rate of 1.2% per year.
2. Write an equation to represent the exponential function of the scenario. Also identify the
   following:
   a) Independent variable
   b) Dependent variable
   c) Domain
   d) Range
   e) Starting point
   f) Growth/decay rate
3. Create a table to represent the exponential function. The table will have the year in the left
   column and the value for that year in the right column. Years 1, 5, and 10 must be included
   with 10 the maximum year. Including all 10 years will make it easier to plot the graph
4. List the growth or decay rate which is given in the problem you select. Is it a positive or
   negative rate?
5. Your equation will have two letters which are the variables. Which is the independent
   variable? This is the one you specify to determine the value of the other variable which is the
   dependent variable?
6. You will start your graph where it crosses the vertical axis which will be the value for year
7. What is that value ?
8. Create a graph of your function. The horizontal axis will be years and will be labeled from 0
   to 10.
   From your graph determine the range and domain for your function.