There is "exponential", and there is "exponential"...

From: Bryan J. Maloney (jacobus@sonata.cc.purdue.edu)
Date: Thu 24 Feb 1994 - 23:09:23 EET


Uh, could somebody please cite me the law of physics that states that
"exponential" MUST mean that something doubles at every step?

I'm no math genius, but I was under the impression that "exponential"
just meant that f(x)=ba^x.

Now, if something doubles at every integral step, then b=1, a=2.
However, I was under the impression that b and a were not constrained as
to what they could be assigned (barring, possibly, complex quantities).

Now, given my unprofessional understanding of "exponential", could not a
system be worked out which is a compromise between too gross a gain and
too little a gain?

Maybe I'll throw some tables onto the list tonight.

0,,


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