Math with Bad DrawingsCartoon Archive

It's Simpler, But Is It More Practical?

June 7, 2021Original blog post

Two equivalent expressions as two outfits: (1/2)^t is simpler, but e^(−t ln 2) might be more practical for the occasion. Which form is "simplest" depends on what you need it for.

Transcript

[Holding up two dresses, one labeled e^(−t ln 2), the other (1/2)^t] "It's simpler… but is it more practical?"

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Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.

Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2021-06-07-it-s-simpler-but-is-it-more-practical/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Topics
Math Culture › SimplifyingFunctions › Exponential FunctionsFunctions › Logarithms
Level
High SchoolCalculusCollege
Themes
Visual ExplanationsEveryday Life