A quadratic has a squared term...causing the shape of a parabola, a U shape because both positive and negative x's squared end up being the same number. real world situation a quadratic could be used to track the height of a launched object. An exponential has the variable in the exponent, causing the y to grow or decay increasingly quickly or increasing slowly real world example: banks use interest, over months or years.Each time the interest is applied, it is applied to a new and bigger total