I can't figure out the graph of y=3*(-2)^(x-1). Help?

Answer 1

are you sure about the (-2)? Most of the the points in the image (range) of this graph are off of the real line. This graph is best viewed by replacing the y-axis with a complex plane.

If i'm not mistaken this can be viewed as a spiral around the x-axis

You can parametrize the graph in polar coordinates as:

(r, theta) = ( 3*2^(x-1), i*Pi*(x-1) )

Answer 2

This graph is a tricky one. The graph of this function is not very helpful, the graph has so many asymptotes that it looks entirely discrete. Basically (x-1) can only work for the equation if (x-1) can be expressed as a fraction a/b where a and b are integers and b is odd.

So:

x can equal -2 and 3/5 but not 3/2 or sqrt(5)/2

x=2 >>> y= -6
x=3/5 >>> y= is approx 2.27

x=3/2 >>> y is imaginary (doesnt show up in the graph so doesn't work)
x=sqrt(5)/2 >>> y is imaginary

Answer 3

It will only be a set of noncontinuous points. It will not look like a curve or anything because the negative two makes all nonintegral values of x undefined under the real numbers.

Answer 4

It will only be a set of noncontinuous points. It will not look like a curve or anything because the negative two makes all nonintegral values of x undefined under the real numbers

Answer 5

if you go to http://www.calculator.com/calcs/GCalc.html

type in 3 * (-2)^(x - 1), leaving out the y = part, and you will get a graph.

if you go to that site, look real close, you will see dots at
(1,3), (9,768), (2,-6), etc...

If you click the Trace to the On position, and just move your mouse left and right, you will notice what the points are.

Answer 6

here's the graph of

y = 3 ( -2^ (x-1) )