Let's solve the equation $y = 35(0.97)^4$.

1. First, calculate $(0.97)^4$: $(0.97)^4 \approx 0.8853$

2. Now, multiply by 35: $y = 35 \times 0.8853 \approx 30.99$

So, the value of $y$ is approximately 30.99.

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Here are 5 follow-up questions to explore:

1. What happens if you change the base from 0.97 to another number?
2. How does this result change if the exponent is modified?
3. What is the significance of exponential decay in real-life scenarios?
4. How would you graph this function for different values of the exponent?
5. What if the initial value, 35, changes?

Tip: Exponential decay functions like this model processes where values decrease by a fixed percentage over time, such as depreciation or cooling.