\(y=a^x\), where a is greater than zero but not equal to 1 and x is an exponent

This is an exponential function where the base is a and the exponent is x. As x increases, the value of y increases exponentially. When a is greater than 1, the function will have a vertical asymptote at x=0 and will approach y=0 as x approaches negative infinity. When a is between 0 and 1, the function will approach y=0 as x approaches positive infinity and will have a horizontal asymptote at y=0. If a is less than 0, the function will be undefined for all real values of x.

If a is less than 0, the function will be undefined for all real values of x.

This is not always true.
(-4)^2 = 16
(-2.378)^-3 = -0.07436...

The statement is "true" only if you define a^x = e^(x ln(a))

The equation \(y=a^x\) represents an exponential function. In this function, the base (a) is a positive number greater than zero, but not equal to 1, and x is the exponent.

To evaluate this function and find the value of y for a given x and a, you need to raise the base (a) to the power of the exponent (x). Here's how you can do that:

1. Take the value of a.
2. Raise it to the power of x.
3. The result is the value of y.

For example, let's say we have \(y=2^3\). In this case, a = 2 and x = 3. To find y, we raise 2 to the power of 3:

\(y = 2^3 = 2\times2\times2 = 8\)

So, when a = 2 and x = 3, the value of y is 8.

Similarly, if we have \(y=5^{2}\), a = 5 and x = 2. To find y, we raise 5 to the power of 2:

\(y = 5^2 = 5\times5 = 25\)

In this case, when a = 5 and x = 2, the value of y is 25.

You can follow these steps to evaluate any exponential function of the form \(y=a^x\) where a is greater than zero but not equal to 1, and x is the exponent.

You are correct. When a is a negative number, the expression a^x is not a real number for all values of x, unless x is an integer and a is an odd number. However, if we extend the concept of exponentiation to include complex numbers, then we can define a^x for all x in the complex plane and a in the set of real numbers, including negative numbers. In this case, we define a^x as e^(xln(a)), where ln(a) denotes the natural logarithm of a.