College

If [tex]f(x)=\left(\frac{1}{7}\right)\left(7^x\right)[/tex], what is [tex]f(3)[/tex]?



A. [tex]\frac{1}{49}[/tex]

B. 49

C. 343

D. [tex]\frac{1}{343}[/tex]

Answer :

- Substitute $x=3$ into the function $f(x)=\left(\frac{1}{7}\right)\left(7^x\right)$.
- Calculate $7^3 = 343$.
- Simplify the expression $\left(\frac{1}{7}\right)(343)$.
- The final answer is $\boxed{49}$.

### Explanation
1. Understanding the problem
We are given the function $f(x)=\left(\frac{1}{7}\right)\left(7^x\right)$ and asked to find the value of $f(3)$. This involves substituting $x=3$ into the function and simplifying the expression.

2. Substituting x=3
To find $f(3)$, we substitute $x=3$ into the function: $$f(3) = \left(\frac{1}{7}\right)\left(7^3\right)$$.

3. Calculating 7^3
Now, we calculate $7^3$, which is $7 \times 7 \times 7 = 343$. So, we have: $$f(3) = \left(\frac{1}{7}\right)(343)$$.

4. Simplifying the expression
Next, we simplify the expression by dividing 343 by 7: $$\frac{343}{7} = 49$$. Therefore, $f(3) = 49$.

5. Final Answer
Comparing our result with the given options, we find that $f(3) = 49$ corresponds to option B.

### Examples
Exponential functions are used to model various real-world phenomena, such as population growth, radioactive decay, and compound interest. For example, if a population of bacteria doubles every hour, the population size can be modeled by an exponential function. Similarly, the amount of money in a bank account with compound interest grows exponentially over time. Understanding how to evaluate exponential functions is crucial for making predictions and analyzing these phenomena.