Once an antibiotic is given, the number of bacteria decreases at a rate of 15%/day. There were about 15,000 bacteria prior to the treatment. The graph models the number of bacteria after x days of treatment.

What are the key features of the exponential function modeled in terms of this situation and how can they be interpreted?

An exponential curve on a coordinate plane with a horizontal x-axis ranging from 0 to 30 in increments of 2. The vertical y-axis ranges from 0 to 17000 in increments of 500. The x-axis is labeled Days. The y-axis is labeled Bacteria. The curve begins close to the x-axis in the first quadrant. The curve increases through begin ordered pair 22 comma 420 end ordered pair. The curve passes through begin ordered pair 0 comma 15000 end ordered pair and exits the second quadrant.

Select each correct answer.

Question 2 options:

The line y = 0 is an asymptote of the graph.


The x-intercept is 30.


The line x = 0 is an asymptote of the graph.


The asymptote indicates that there will never be more than 15,000 bacteria.


The y-intercept is 15,000.


The y-intercept represents the number of bacteria when treatment began.


The asymptote indicates that as time increases, the number of bacteria approaches 0.