Yesterday in class we introduced exponential functions of the form
where the base a is a constant and the exponent x is
the independent variable and 
where k is a constant.
Based on the algebraic properties of exponentiation, we were able to
describe the behavior of these functions and sketch their graphs.
In this discussion, we want to use these descriptions and plots
to analyze more complicated functions that involve exponentials.
Like we did yesterday, let us put our calculators and textbooks aside
and try to think our way through the questions.