Question

Describe in your own words how you can recognize the difference between exponential growth and exponential decay

Answer 1

key words being "growth" and "decay"
growth function increases over time
decay function decreases over time

Answer 2

as far as difference in equation
exponential growth has positive exponent
--> y = e^kt

exponential decay has negative exponent
--> y = e^-kt

Answer 3

I meant how do you tell the difference from looking at an equation whether its growth or decay.

Answer 4

or if base is not e, but some other number
then if b>1 --> growth
b<1 --> decay

examples
\[2^{x} \rightarrow growth\]
\[2^{-x} \rightarrow decay\]
\[(\frac{1}{2})^{x} \rightarrow decay\]
\[(\frac{1}{2})^{-x} \rightarrow growth\]