Step by step
The question
Question: V = 1200(2)ᵈ is the number of video views d days from now.
What does 2 mean?
We write the equation big, so we can label it.
1 What the letters mean
V is the number of video views.
d is the number of days.
It is the small raised number, the power: how many times we multiply by 2.
2 Make a small table
To see what each number does, we try a few days: 0, 1 and 2.
0 is where it starts.
d = 0: no days have passed, so we multiply by 2 zero times.
That is why 2 to the power 0 is 1.
1200 times 1 is 1200.
d = 1: 2 to the power 1 is just 2.
1200 times 2 is 2400.
d = 2: 2 squared is 2 times 2.
1200 times 2 is 2400.
Times 2 again: 2400 times 2 is 4800.
Look at the values of V: 1200, 2400, 4800.
Each time d goes up 1, V is multiplied by 2.
The same number every time.
3 Find the numbers in the table
Now we write the equation again, and label its numbers.
1200 is V at d = 0: the first number in the table.
So 1200 is the number of video views at the start.
2 is what we multiply by, once for each day.
That is the power d: it counts the days.
Careful!
2 is multiplied, not added.
Look at the table: 1200, 2400, 4800.
4 Say it in words
So 2 means: the number of video views doubles each day.
Times 2 is double.
5 Check
Let's check one more step: 2400 times 2 is 4800: the table at d = 2.
It works!
Let's look back.
First: what the letters mean.
Then: make a small table.
Then: find the numbers in the table.
Then: say it in words.
Last: check.