Question

Is `f(x)=x^2` an exponential function?

Answer 1

Well, no...this is power called a quadratic.
There is a slight but very important difference between the power and the exponential that concerns the "position" of `x`;
Power: the `x` is...at the ground floor and the number, say `a`, in the attic!
`x^a`
Exponential: the other way round; now `x` is in the attic and the number at the ground floor:
`a^x`
Seems trivial but have a look:
`y=x^2`
graph{x^2 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}

`y=2^x`
graph{2^x [-11.39, 11.11, -2.61, 8.64]}

And compare values:

Would you like your salary be modelled by a quadratic or exponential??? :-)