Exploration of

Exponential Functions
 Prior Knowledge
If a is any positive number and x is any integer, then a x  0
If a is any positive number and x is any integ
e.g. 34  81  0
1 1 e.g. 3 4
 81  0
2
4  2  0 1 1
4 16 4 2  2  0
4 16

• Understand and apply the laws of indices

• Functions
 Exponents/Indices/Powers
(base)exponent

3 Exponent /

5
index /
power

Base

The exponent says how many of the base are being multiplied together.
John has €10 to buy bars of chocolate which cost €2 each.

Amount of Money left

1
Bars bought 2
3
1 4
5
2
6
3 7
8
9
10
John has €10 to buy bars of chocolate which cost €2 each.
Let x be the number of chocolate bars we buy and y be the
amount of money left. The relationship between x and y is
shown below
y

1 1. Each value of x corresponds to

x values of y
2
3 &
1 4 2. Each value of x corresponds to
5 only one value of y
2
6
3 7 y is a function of x if
8 both of these
9 2 conditions are true
10
1.Each value of 1 3 3
x corresponds 1
to values of y
2 4 4
&

2.Each value of
x corresponds 1 3 1
to only one 3
value of y 2 4 2

1 3 1 3

2 4 2 4
1.Each value of 1 3 3
x corresponds 1
to values of y
2 4 4
&
 Fails condition 2
2.Each value of
x corresponds 1 3 1
to only one 3
value of y 2 4 2
Fails condition 1 
1 3 1 3

2 4 2 4

 Fails both conditions

1.Each value of 1 3
x corresponds
Bijective
to values of y
2 4
&

2.Each value of
x corresponds
to only one
value of y
 Basic Technique
Read information from a graph
e.g. the figure shows the graph of
p(x) = x2 + 1 and q(x) = x2 - 2
in the domain -4 ≤ x ≤ 4, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

Discuss what are the similarities

and the differences
 Basic Technique
Read information from a graph
e.g. the figure shows the graph of
P(x) = x2 + 1
in the domain -4 ≤ x ≤ 4, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

• The graph has no x- intercepts

• Its y intercept is 1
• For x ≥ 0, x2 + 1 increases as x increases
• For x ≤ 0, x2 + 1 increases as x decreases
 Exponential Functions
Learning Outcomes
After completing this session you will be able to:

1. Understand the properties of exponential

functions
2. Learn the features of their graphs
 Exponential Functions
Activity Sheets

Section ● y =2x & y=3x

A Page ● Compare
4-8 ● Characteristics
SA:1-4
Section Page ● y=(1/2)x & y=(1/3)x
B ● Compare
SA:1-4 9 -13 ● Characteristics

Section ● Compare y=(1/2)x and y=2x

C Page ● Compare y=(1/3)x and y=3x
14 -16 ● Now I see….
SA: 1-4

Section Page Problem Solving Questions

4 17-18
 Organisation
• Groups 1& 5 • Groups 3, 7 & 9
Complete Section A Complete Section B
Student Activity 1 Student Activity 1
page 4 - 5 page 9 - 10

• Groups 2 & 6 • Groups 4,8 & 10

Complete Section A Complete Section B
Student Activity 2 Student Activity 2
page 6 - 7 page 11 - 12
 Feedback

• Groups 1& 5 • Groups 2 & 6

Section A Section A
Student Activity 1 Student Activity 2
page 4 - 5 page 6 - 7
 Feedback
Q1 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙
(i) Base Base

(ii) Exponent Exponent

(iii) Varying Varying

(iv) Constant Constant

Q2 Domain Domain

4,5,6 & 7
 Feedback
Q1 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙
(i) Base 2 Base 3

(ii) Exponent x Exponent x

(iii) Varying x & f(x) Varying x & g(x)

(iv) Constant 2 Constant 3

Q2 Domain x∈𝑹 Domain x∈𝑹

4,5,6 & 7
x (2)X f(x) x (3)X g(x)
-4 (2)-4 1/16 -4 (3)-4 1/81
-3 (2)-3 1/8 -3 (3)-3 1/27
-2 (2)-2 1/4 -2 (3)-2 1/9
-1 (2)-1 1/2 -1 (3)-1 1/3
0 (2)0 1 0 (3)0 1
1 (2)1 2 1 (3)1 3
2 (2)2 3 2 (3)2 9
3 (2)3 8 3 (3)3 27
4 (2)4 16 4 (3)4 81

4,5,6 & 7
 Groups
1& 5 2&6

3x
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙

4,5,6 & 7
 Groups
1& 5 2&6

3x
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙

4,5,6 & 7
Groups 1, 5, 2 & 6

3x g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙

2x

𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙

4,5,6 & 7
 Questions 4 & 5
Q4 Q5
(i) Straight Line No (i) Outputs (Range) R+

(ii) Y increasing or Increasing (ii) Negative Outputs, No

decreasing as x Why?
increases
(iii) Outputs as x Decreases
(iii) Rate of change Not constant decreases

(iv) Describe how its Increasing (iv) An output of 0? No

curvature/rate of Why?
change is changing
(v) X-intercept None

(vi) Y-intercept 1

4,5,6 & 7
 Questions 4 & 5
Q4 Q5
(i) Straight Line (i) Outputs (Range)

(ii) Y increasing or (ii) Negative Outputs,

decreasing as x Why?
increases
(iii) Outputs as x
(iii) Rate of change decreases

(iv) Describe how its (iv) An output of 0?

curvature/rate of Why?
change is changing
(v) X-intercept

(vi) Y-intercept

4,5,6 & 7
 Feedback

• Groups 3, 7 & 9 • Groups 4,8 & 10

Section B Section B
Student Activity 1 Student Activity 2
page 9 - 10 page 11 - 12
 Feedback
𝒙 𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒈 𝒙 =
Q1 𝟐 𝟑
𝟏 𝟏
(i) Base Base
𝟐 𝟑

(ii) Exponent x Exponent x

(iii) Varying x & f(x) Varying x & g(x)

𝟏 𝟏
(iv) Constant Constant
𝟐 𝟑

Q2 Domain x∈𝑹 Domain x∈𝑹

9,10,11 & 12
 𝟏 𝒙
𝒙
𝟏
x f(x) x g(x)
𝟐 𝟑
−4 −4
1 1
-4 16 -4 81
2 3
−3 −3
1 1
-3 8 -3 27
2 3
−2 −2
1 1
-2 4 -2 9
2 3
−1 −1
1 1
-1 2 -1 3
2 3
0 0
1 1
0 1 0 1
2 3
1
1
1 1
1
1
1 1
2 2 3 3
1
2
1 1
2
1
2 2
2 4 3 9
1
3
1 1
3
1
3 3
2 8 3 27
1
4
1 1
4
1
4 4
2 16 3 81
9,10,11 & 12
 Groups
3,7 & 9 4,8 & 10
𝒙 𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒈 𝒙 =
𝟐 𝟑

9,10,11 & 12
 Groups
3,7 & 9 4,8 & 10
𝒙
𝟏
𝒈 𝒙 =
𝟑

𝒙
𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝟐

9,10,11 & 12
 Groups 3,7,9,4,8 & 10
𝒙
𝟏
𝒈 𝒙 =
𝟑

𝒙
𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝟐
 Questions 4 & 5
Q4 Q5
(i) Straight Line (i) Outputs (Range)

(ii) Y increasing or (ii) Negative Outputs,

decreasing as x Why?
increases
(iii) Outputs as x
(iii) Rate of change decreases

(iv) Describe how its (iv) An output of 0?

curvature/rate of Why?
change is changing
(v) X-intercept

(vi) Y-intercept

9,10,11 & 12
 Questions 4 & 5
Q4 Q5
(i) Straight Line No (i) Outputs (Range) R+

(ii) Y increasing or Decreasing (ii) Negative Outputs, No

decreasing as x Why?
increases
(iii) Outputs as x Increases
(iii) Rate of change Not constant decreases

(iv) Describe how its Decreasing (iv) An output of 0? No

curvature/rate of Why?
change is changing
(v) X-intercept None

(vi) Y-intercept 1

9,10,11 & 12
 Organisation

• Groups 1, 5, 2 & 6 Groups 3,7,9,4,8,& 10

x x
 1  1
• Draw either 2x or 3x • Draw either 2
 
or 3
 
Complete Section A Complete Section B
Activities 3 & 4 Activities 3 & 4
Page 8 Pages 13 & 14
 Compare 2x and 3x
Section A Activity 3 page 8 (Groups 1,2,5,& 6)

1. How are they the same and how are they

different?

2. Are they functions?

3. Name this type of function and why?

8
 Understand the characteristics of
f ( x)  a x , a  1
Section A Activity 4 page 8
• Domain • Curvature

• Straight Line • Range

• Is y increasing or • X-intercept
decreasing as x
• Y-intercept
increases

• Maximum/
Minimum value

8
 Understand the characteristics of
f ( x)  a x , a  1
Section A Activity 4 page 8
• Domain x∈𝑹 • Curvature Increasing

• Straight Line No • Range R+

• Is y increasing or • X-intercept None

decreasing as x Increasing
• Y-intercept 1
increases

• Maximum/ None

Minimum value

8
 𝒙 𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
Compare 𝟐 and 𝟑
Section B Activities 3 & 4 page 13

1. How are they the same and how are they

different?

2. Are they functions?

3. Name this type of function and why?

13
 Understand the characteristics of
f(x)  a ,0  a  1
x

Section B Activity 4 page 13

• Domain • Curvature

• Straight Line • Range

• Is y increasing or • X-intercept
decreasing as x
• Y-intercept
increases

• Maximum/
Minimum value
 Understand the characteristics of
f(x)  a ,0  a  1
x

Section B Activity 4 page 13

• Domain x∈𝑹 • Curvature Decreasing

• Straight Line No • Range R+

• Is y increasing or • X-intercept None

decreasing as x Decreasing
• Y-intercept 1
increases

• Maximum/ None

Minimum value
 Organisation

• Groups 1,3,5,7,& 9 • Groups 2,4,6,8 & 10

• Section C Activity 1 • Section C Activity 2
• Page 14 • Page 14
 1 𝑥
Compare 2𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑
2
1. Same
2. Different
1 𝑥
3. Write 𝑓 𝑥 = using a base of 2
2

4. What transformation maps the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥

1 𝑥
onto the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = ?
2

14
 1 𝑥
Compare 3𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑
3
1. Same
2. Different
1 𝑥
3. Write g 𝑥 = using a base of 3
3

4. What transformation maps the graph of 𝑔 𝑥 = 3𝑥

1 𝑥
onto the graph of 𝑔 𝑥 = ?
3

14
 Compare
𝒙 𝒙
𝟏 𝟏
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒈 𝒙 =
x𝟐 𝟑
1 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐2𝒙x
2 g 𝒙 = 𝟑𝒙
 All Groups

Complete Section C
Activity 3
page 15
 Section C
1. If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 , 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 𝑎 > 1, then the properties of the exponential function are:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 , 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 𝑎 > 1, then the features of the exponential graph are:

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

3. If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 , 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 0 < 𝑎 < 1, then the properties of the exponential function

are:
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

4. If 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 , 𝑎 ∈ ℝ, 0 < 𝑎 < 1, then the features of the exponential graph are:

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

15
All Groups

16
 Exponential Functions
(properties)

f(x)  a x ,0  a  1 f ( x)  a x , a  1
Exponential Graphs
(features)
x x
 1  1
 2  and  3  2x and 3x
   
 Prior Knowledge
Effective
Connections
questioning

Underlying Principles
What if
Group work
questions

Discussion &
Misconceptions Communication

Methods rather
Rich tasks
than answers