Given:
For en exponential function f(a):
[tex]f(-3)=18[/tex]
[tex]f(1)=59[/tex]
To find:
The value of f(0).
Solution:
The general form of an exponential function is:
[tex]f(x)=ab^x[/tex] ...(i)
Where, a is the initial value and b is the growth/ decay factor.
We have, [tex]f(-3)=18[/tex]. Substitute [tex]x=-3,f(x)=18[/tex] in (i).
[tex]18=ab^{-3}[/tex] ...(ii)
We have, [tex]f(1)=59[/tex]. Substitute [tex]x=1,f(x)=59[/tex] in (i).
[tex]59=ab^{1}[/tex] ...(iii)
On dividing (iii) by (ii), we get
[tex]\dfrac{59}{18}=\dfrac{ab^{1}}{ab^{-3}}[/tex]
[tex]3.278=b^{1-(-3)}[/tex]
[tex]3.278=b^{4}[/tex]
[tex](3.278)^{\frac{1}{4}}=b[/tex]
[tex]1.346=b[/tex]
Substituting the value of b in (iii).
[tex]59=a(1.346)^1[/tex]
[tex]\dfrac{59}{1.346}=a[/tex]
[tex]43.83358=a[/tex]
[tex]a\approx 43.83[/tex]
The initial value of the function is 43.83. It means, [tex]f(0)=43.83[/tex].
Therefore, the value of f(0) is 43.83.