exponential
nounEtymology From exponent + -ial.
1
Mathematics, Sciences Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable.
exponential
adjUK /ˌɛk.spəˈnɛn.t͡ʃəl/ · CA, US /ˌɛk.spəˈnɛn.t͡ʃəl/
Etymology From exponent + -ial.
1
Mathematics, Sciences Expressed in terms of an exponent (power of a base), the base often being 10 or e.
- In base-10 exponential form, 1,000,000 is written as 10⁶.
- If not otherwise specified, "the" exponential function is normally understood to mean eˣ.
2
Mathematics, Sciences Characterised by a rate of change that is proportional to the value of the varying quantity, or, equivalently, by a doubling or halving over successive fixed intervals of time or other parameter, described as exponential growth or exponential decay.
- There were two deaths on Monday, four on Tuesday, and eight on Wednesday. The rate of increase seems exponential.
- ... Students apply the definition of slope to various representations of growth functions to discover differences between exponential and constant rate of growth.2013, Yvelyne Germain-McCarthy, Bringing the NCTM Standards to Life: Best Practices, High School, page 101:
3
Broadly Characterised by a very rapid rate of change, especially increase, or merely a very large amount or degree.
- Near-synonyms: extreme, huge
- There's been an exponential rise in the number of crimes reported this year, compared to last year.
3 more examples
- If loans are not what you are looking for, then search for scholarships [...] I have been putting together scholarship letters for parents over the past decade, and there is an exponential amount of money to be had.2011, Michael Kiers, College Convo - Overview of College Admissions https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/College_Convo_Overview_of_College_Admiss/MqvdAwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22exponential+amount%22&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover:
- It is also about an arms control forum that has been meeting just once every five years for decision making on topics that are moving with exponential velocity [...]2013, Daniel M. Gerstein, National Security and Arms Control in the Age of Biotechnology https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/National_Security_and_Arms_Control_in_th/Bf2tAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22exponential+velocity%22&pg=PR11&printsec=frontcover:
- Of course, one can creatively conjure up a host of things robot-politicians can do at exponential speed and scale, from shaking hands and kissing babies to handling the fundraising “robocalls” that frustrate American voters.2018 July 31, Alvin Carpio, “Is it time to automate politicians?”, in The Economist:
- Antonyms
- nonexponential
- Derived terms
31 terms
biexponential, coexponential, exponential decay, exponential distribution, exponential equation, exponential function, exponential generating function, exponential growth, exponentiality, exponentialize, exponentially, exponential map, exponential object, exponential smoothing, exponential time, hyperexponential, hypoexponential, midexponential, mono-exponential, monoexponential, multiexponential, nonexponential, polyexponential, postexponential, preexponential, pre-exponential, subexponential, superexponential, tetraexponential, triexponential, uniexponential