This learning activity is a one-page worksheet designed to help students apply properties of exponential functions and transformations to understand and graph exponential functions.

For the first half, students match basic exponential function equations of the form f(x) = a^x to their graphs. Students use skills such as point plotting, whether functions are increasing (a>1) vs decreasing (0<a<1), and transformations.

Students also graph a more complex function by thinking about the parent function and applying the appropriate transformations.

Along the way, students are asked to identify functional characteristics such as domain and range, horizontal asymptotes, and increase vs. decrease intervals.

A calculator is not needed, students may use the properties of the basic properties of exponential parent functions to plot all graphs.

An answer key is also included.

This worksheet was designed for and used in a college algebra class as an "exit ticket" type assignment, where students broke into small groups to spend the last 10-15 minutes of class practicing what was learned.

This worksheet could easily be utilized in a high school or college algebra course. as an activity, homework, pop quiz, or entrance/exit ticket.