 Because of their dramatic changes in intensity from one point to another, earthquakes are an ideal example of exponential functions. A massive earthquake in southwestern China in 2008 caused an enormous amount of damage at its epicenter but much less at points farther away. This program compares quakes of various magnitudes that occurred in Sichuan Province to explain the difference between linear and exponential functions. The difference between magnitude and intensity, and their relation to each other, is also covered. Part of the series Algebra Applications. (20 minutes)
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