Constant Function

      
Algebraic

      
 Geometric

      
 Numerical

      
 y = a

      
(where a is a real number)

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 


      

        
Horizontal Line
        
One y-intercept at (o,a)
        
Infinite number of x-intercepts when a = 0
        
Zero x-intercepts when a>0 or a<0
      

      


      

        
As x increases, y stays constant at "a"
        
1st differences = 0
      

Linear Function

      
Algebraic

      
Geometric

      
Numerical

      
y=ax+b

      
(where a and b are real numbers)

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 


      

        
Straight Line
        
One y-intercept at (o , b)
        
One x-intercept at (-b/a , o )
        
Monotonically Increasing or Decreasing
      

      


      

        
As x increases, y increases (+a) or decreases (-a) at a constant
        rate of "a"
        
1st differences = a
        
2nd differences = 0
      

Exponential Function

      
Algebraic

      
Geometric

      
Numerical

      
y=ae^(bx)+c

      
(where a,b, and c are real numbers)

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 

      
 


      

        
One horizontal asymptote at y=c
        
One y-intercept at (0 , 1+c)
        
Possibly one x-intercept
        
Monotonically Increasing or Decreasing
      

      


      

        
As x increases, y increases (or decreases) at a constant
        PERCENT rate of change.
        
(y2-y1)/(y1) * 100 = Percent Change