Neither v^2 nor v^3 is exponential. They are polynomial functions. Exponential would be if wind resistance or power or fuel consumption were c^x for some constant c.
It seems to have become fashionable to say "exponentially" or even "EXPONENTIALLY" when you mean it's a rapidly increasing function, but to the technically-minded, whom I would hope to find on HN, there is still a clear-cut difference between exponential and polynomial.
I think the fact that polynomials contain an exponent forgives that particular degradation of precision in the vernacular. I corrected the OP by adding context so onlookers could know just how fast the power requirements grow without poo-pooing their choice of words. In a programming context, extacting language precision is beneficial. Shooting the shit in an Internet forum I think we can tolerate imprecision in others without causing a dust up. Now tell me how do you feel when someone says “it’s pretty unique”
It seems to have become fashionable to say "exponentially" or even "EXPONENTIALLY" when you mean it's a rapidly increasing function, but to the technically-minded, whom I would hope to find on HN, there is still a clear-cut difference between exponential and polynomial.