Re: [math-fun] Exponentially speaking

From: "rcs@xmission.com" <rcs@xmission.com> To: math-fun@mailman.xmission.com Cc: rcs@xmission.com Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 2:14:55 PM Subject: Re: [math-fun] Exponentially speaking Without commenting on the style: The remark does illustrate the need for at least three data points, for a phenomenon to be called exponential. --Rich --- Not necessarily so, x = A exp(B t) has two parameters, and can be fit with only two data points. It's all a question of whether the prior information concerning the data allows it to be modeled as an exponential. This is surely affirmative in the case of radioactive decay; two data points would suffice to determine the half-life. -- Gene