Function \(f\) is defined by \(f(x) = 50 \boldcdot 3^x\). Function \(g\) is defined by \(g(x) = a \boldcdot b^x\).

Here are graphs of \(f\) and \(g\).

1. How does \(a\) compare to 50? Explain how you know.
2. How does \(b\) compare to 3? Explain how you know.

Graph of two increasing exponential functions, labeled f (red) and g (blue), xy-plane, origin O. The functions both start at the vertical axis, function f starts at (0 comma 50) and function g starts above function f. Function f starts below function g, then overtakes function g and is growing faster.  

Technology required. The equation \(y=600,\!000\boldcdot (1.055)^t\) represents the population of a country \(t\) decades after the year 2000.

Use graphing technology to graph the equation. Then, set the graphing window so that you can simultaneously see points on the graph representing the population predicted by the model in 1980 and in the year 2020. What graphing window did you use?

The dollar value of a car is a function, \(f\), of the number of years, \(t\), since the car was purchased. The function is defined by the equation \(f(t) = 12,\!000 \boldcdot \left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^t\) .

1. How much was the car worth when it was purchased? Explain how you know.
2. What is \(f(2)\)? What does this tell you about the car?
3. Sketch a graph of the function \(f\).
4. About when was the car worth \$6,000? Explain how you know.

A ball was dropped from a height of 150 cm. The rebound factor of the ball is 0.8. About how high, in centimeters, did the ball go after the third bounce?

A triathlon athlete runs at an average rate of 8.2 miles per hour, swims at an average rate of 2.4 miles per hour, and bikes at an average rate of 16.1 miles per hour. At the end of one training session (during which she did not run), she has swum and biked more than 20 miles in total.

1. Is it possible that she swam and biked for the following amounts of time in that session? Show your reasoning.

   1. Swam for 0.5 hour and biked 1.25 hours
   2. Swam for \(\frac13\) hour and biked for 70 minutes
2. Write an inequality to represent the relationship between the time she swam and biked, in hours, and the total distance she traveled. Be sure to specify what each variable represents.
3. Use your inequality to graph a solution set that represents all the possible combinations of swimming and running times that meet the distance constraint (regardless of whether the times are realistic).