Exam Strategy

Readiness Check

You are ready when you can:

• Say what a semi-log plot is and which scaling detects exponentials.
• Decide yes/no for an exponential model from a semi-log description.
• Build the linearized equation and recover $a,b$.
• Explain the advantage in 2.15.A.2 briefly.

On the AP Exam

• MCQ: interpret a semi-log graph; choose the exponential conclusion; identify slope meaning.
• FRQ: justify exponential via linearity on semi-log; construct linearization; report $y=ab^{x}$ (skills 2.B, 3.C).

Tactics

1. Confirm which axis is logarithmic. 2. Near-linear on log-$y$ $\Rightarrow$ exponential candidate. 3. Fit line to $(\,x,\,\log_n y\,)$: slope $\log_n b$, intercept $\log_n a$. 4. Convert: $b=n^{\text{slope}}$, $a=n^{\text{intercept}}$. 5. Support the choice with the plot rationale (3.C).

Common Traps

• Using log-$x$ logic for an exponential-$y$ story.
• Leaving the answer in log-coordinates.
• Claiming exponential from a curved linear-scale plot alone.
• Wrong log base when converting slope/intercept.

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Axis scaling identified
• [ ] Linearity judgment stated
• [ ] Linearization written
• [ ] $a$ and $b$ recovered
• [ ] Original model $y=ab^{x}$ reported