Lesson 4

Comparing Quadratic and Exponential Functions

  • Let’s compare quadratic and exponential changes and see which one grows faster.

4.1: From Least to Greatest

List these quantities in order, from least to greatest, without evaluating each expression. Be prepared to explain your reasoning.

A. \(2^{10}\)

B. \(10^2\)

C. \(2^9\)

D. \(9^2\)

 

4.2: Which One Grows Faster?

  • In Pattern A, the length and width of the rectangle grow by one small square from each step to the next.
  • In Pattern B, the number of small squares doubles from each step to the next.
  • In each pattern, the number of small squares is a function of the step number, \(n\).

Pattern A

Four steps of a growing pattern. Step 0 is blank. Step 1: One square.  Step 2: Four squares in a two by two square. Step 3: Nine squares in a three by three square.

Pattern B

Four steps of a growing pattern. Step 0: One square. Step 1: Two squares, one atop the other.  Step 2: Four squares in a two by two square. Step 3: Eight squares in a two by four rectangle.
  1. Write an equation to represent the number of small squares at Step \(n\) in Pattern A.
  2. Is the function linear, quadratic, or exponential?
  3. Complete the table:
    \(n\), step number \(f(n)\), number of small squares
    0  
    1  
    2  
    3  
    4  
    5  
    6  
    7  
    8  
  1. Write an equation to represent the number of small squares at Step \(n\) in Pattern B.
  2. Is the function linear, quadratic, or exponential?
  3. Complete the table:
    \(n\), step number \(g(n)\), number of small squares
    0  
    1  
    2  
    3  
    4  
    5  
    6  
    7  
    8  

How would the two patterns compare if they continue to grow? Make 1–2 observations.

4.3: Comparing Two More Functions

Here are two functions: \(p(x) = 6x^2\) and \(q(x) = 3^x\).

Investigate the output of \(p\) and \(q\) for different values of \(x\). For large enough values of \(x\), one function will have a greater value than the other. Which function will have a greater value as \(x\) increases?

Support your answer with tables, graphs, or other representations.



  1. Jada says that some exponential functions grow more slowly than the quadratic function \(f(x)=x^2\) as \(x\) increases. Do you agree with Jada? Explain your reasoning.
  2. Let \(f(x) = x^2\). Could you have an exponential function \(g(x)=b^x\) so that \(g(x) < f(x)\) for all values of \(x\)?

Summary

We have seen that the graphs of quadratic functions can curve upward. Graphs of exponential functions, with base larger than 1, also curve upward. To compare the two, let’s look at the quadratic expression \(3n^2\) and the exponential expression \(2^n\).

A table of values shows that \(3n^2\) is initially greater than \(2^n\) but \(2^n\) eventually becomes greater.

\(n\) \(3n^2\) \(2^n\)
1 3 2
2 12 4
3 27 8
4 48 16
5 75 32
6 108 64
7 147 128
8 192 256

We also saw an explanation for why exponential growth eventually overtakes quadratic growth.

  • When \(n\) increases by 1, the exponential expression \(2^n\) always increases by a factor of 2.
  • The quadratic expression \(3n^2\) increases by different factors, depending on \(n\), but these factors get smaller. For example, when \(n\) increases from 2 to 3, the factor is \(\frac{27}{12}\) or 2.25. When \(n\) increases from 6 to 7, the factor is \(\frac {147}{108}\) or about 1.36. As \(n\) increases to larger and larger values, \(3n^2\) grows by a factor that gets closer and closer to 1.

A quantity that always doubles will eventually overtake a quantity growing by this smaller factor at each step.

Video Summary

Video VLS Alg1U6V1 Introducing Quadratic Functions (Lessons 2–4) available at https://player.vimeo.com/video/505710306.

Glossary Entries

  • quadratic function

    A function where the output is given by a quadratic expression in the input.