1. What is e?
Mathematically e is a constant. Its value is about 2. 7183.
A calculator can be used to find the value of e for any value of x.
The graph of y = ex is a growth curve.
2. Why is e so important?
The function y = ex along with its inverse y = ln x (logarithm to base e) is often the basis for mathematical modelling of population growth and natural growth and decay.
The function y = ex is also the only function which is its own derivative and this models situations where the rate of change is proportional to a quantity.
