KS5 "Full Coverage": Exponentials & Logarithms

This worksheet is designed to cover one question of each type seen in past papers, for each
GCSE Higher Tier topic. This worksheet was automatically generated by the DrFrostMaths
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Question 1
Categorisation: Solve equations of the form 𝒂𝒙 = 𝒃.

[Edexcel C2 May 2011 Q3a]

Find, giving your answer to 3 significant figures where appropriate, the value of 𝑥 for which

5𝑥 = 10

𝑥 = ..........................

Question 2
Categorisation: Solve equations of the form 𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒙 𝒂 = 𝒃.

[Edexcel C2 Jan 2010 Q5a]

Find the positive value of 𝑥 such that

𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 64 = 2

..........................

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Question 3
Categorisation: Solve equations of the form 𝒆𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒂

[Edexcel C3 June 2017 Q2a]

Find the exact solution, in their simplest form, to the equation

𝑒 3𝑥−9 = 8

..........................

Question 4
Categorisation: Solve modulus equations involving exponential functions.

[Edexcel C3 June 2015 Q2c]

Let (𝑥) = 2𝑒 𝑥 − 5 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ .

Find the exact solutions of the equation |𝑓(𝑥)| = 2

..........................

Question 5
Categorisation: Solve general log equations.

[Edexcel AS Specimen Papers P1 Q9]

Find any real values of 𝑥 such that

2 𝑙𝑜𝑔 4 (2 − 𝑥) − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 4 (𝑥 + 5) = 1

..........................

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Question 6
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2017 Q2b] Find the exact solution, in their simplest form, to the equation

𝑙𝑛 (2𝑦 + 5) = 2 + 𝑙𝑛 (4 − 𝑦)

..........................

Question 7
Categorisation: Solve equations involving 𝒍𝒏.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013 Q6a]

Find algebraically the exact solutions to the equation

𝑙𝑛 (4 − 2𝑥) + 𝑙𝑛 (9 − 3𝑥) = 2 𝑙𝑛 (𝑥 + 1) , −1 < 𝑥 < 2

..........................

Question 8
Categorisation: Solve equations where the resulting non-log equation contains a
square root.

[Edexcel C2 May 2014(R) Q8ii]

Use algebra to find the values of 𝑥 for which

1
𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 (𝑥 + 15) − 4 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 𝑥
2

..........................

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Question 9
Categorisation: Change the subject of an equation involving logs.

[Edexcel C2 May 2016 Q8i] Given that

𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 (3𝑏 + 1) − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 (𝑎 − 2) = −1, 𝑎 > 2,

express 𝑏 in terms of 𝑎 .

𝑏 = ..........................

Question 10
Categorisation: Solve log equations in the context of geometric series.

[Edexcel C2 May 2014 Q6c Edited]

7
The first term of a geometric series is 20 and the common ratio is . The sum to infinity of the
8
series is 𝑆∞ .

The sum to 𝑁 terms of the series 𝑆𝑁 .

Given that 𝑆∞ = 160 , find the smallest value of 𝑁 for which 𝑆∞ − 𝑆𝑁 < 0.5 .

𝑁 = ..........................

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Question 11
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C2 May 2011 Q6d Edited] The second and third terms of a geometric series are 192
3
and 144 respectively. Given that the common ratio is 4 and that the first term is 256 , find the
smallest value of 𝑛 for which the sum of the first 𝑛 terms of the series exceeds 1000.

𝑛 = ..........................

Question 12
Categorisation: Solve an equation which is quadratic in an exponential function.

[Edexcel C2 Jan 2011 Q8b]

Solve the equation

72𝑥 − 4(7𝑥 ) + 3 = 0

giving your answers to 2 decimal places where appropriate.

..........................

Question 13
Categorisation: As above, but with a more complex power.

[Edexcel AS SAM P1 Q12b]

A student was asked to give the exact solution to the equation

22𝑥+4 − 9(2𝑥 ) = 0

Find the exact solution to the equation.

..........................

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Question 14
Categorisation: Consider the intersection of an exponential graph with another
curve.

[Edexcel C3 June 2015 Q6a Edited] Figure 1 is a sketch showing part of the curve with
equation 𝑦 = 2𝑥+1 − 3 and part of the line with equation 𝑦 = 17 − 𝑥 .

The curve and the line intersect at the point 𝐴 .

Show that the 𝑥 -coordinate of 𝐴 satisfies the equation

𝑙𝑛 (𝑎 − 𝑥)
𝑥= −1
𝑙𝑛 𝑏

where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants to be found.

..........................

Question 15
Categorisation: Solve an equation involving exponentials with different bases.

[Edexcel C3 June 2014 Q2b]

Find the exact solution, in its simplest form, to the equation

3𝑥 𝑒 4𝑥 = 𝑒 7

𝑥 = ..........................

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Question 16
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013 Q6b]

Find algebraically the exact solutions to the equation

2𝑥 𝑒 3𝑥+1 = 10

..........................

Question 17
Categorisation: Determine a composite function involving 𝒍𝒏 or 𝒆𝒙

[Edexcel A2 SAM P2 Q4a] Given

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 , 𝑥∈ℝ

𝑔(𝑥) = 3 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 , 𝑥 >0, 𝑥 ∈ℝ

find an expression for 𝑔𝑓(𝑥) , simplifying your answer.

𝑔𝑓(𝑥) = ..........................

Question 18
Categorisation: Determine the inverse of a logarithmic or exponential equation, and
determine the domain or range of an exponential function.

[Edexcel C3 June 2014(R) Q6b] The function 𝑓 is defined by

𝑓: 𝑥 → 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑘 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑘 is a positive constant.

Find 𝑓 −1 and state its domain.

.........................

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Question 27
Categorisation: Determine the inverse of a logarithm function.

[Edexcel C3 June 2007 Q5b Edited] The functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 are defined by
1
𝑓: 𝑥 → 𝑙𝑛 (2𝑥 − 1) , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 > 2

2
𝑔: 𝑥 → 𝑥−3
, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ, 𝑥 ≠ 3

Find the inverse function 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) .

𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = ..........................

Question 19
Categorisation: Solve an equation involving use of a function.

[Edexcel C3 June 2014(R) Q6c] The function 𝑔 is defined by

𝑔: 𝑥 → 𝑙𝑛 (2𝑥) , 𝑥>0

Solve the equation

𝑔(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥 2 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 3 ) = 6

giving your answer in its simplest form.

..........................

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Question 20
Categorisation: Determine the range of a composite function involving exponentials
or logarithms.

[Edexcel C3 June 2011 Q4d] The function 𝑓 is defined by

𝑓: 𝑥 → 4 − 𝑙𝑛 (𝑥 + 2) , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≥ −1

The function g is defined by

2
𝑔: 𝑥 → 𝑒 𝑥 − 2 , 𝑥 ∈ ℝ

Find the range of 𝑔 .

..........................

Question 21
Categorisation: Simplify a logarithmic expression.

𝑥5
[Edexcel C2 May 2013(R) Q6b Edited] Given that 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 𝑥 = 𝑎 , find 𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 (81) in terms of 𝑎
, giving each answer in its simplest form.

..........................

Question 22
Categorisation: Use a cubic/quadratic factorisation to solve a related
log/exponential equation.

[Edexcel C2 May 2013 Q3c Edited]

𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 18

𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 3)(2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)

Given that

𝑔(𝑦) = 2(33𝑦 ) − 5(32𝑦 ) − 9(3𝑦 ) + 18

find the values of 𝑦 that satisfy 𝑔(𝑦) = 0 , giving your answers to 2 decimal places where
appropriate.

..........................

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Question 23
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P1 Q5c Edited]

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 48

It can be shown that 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 8)

It can also be shown that 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 (𝑥 + 2) + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 𝑥 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 (𝑥 − 6) = 3 is equivalent to 𝑥 3 +

4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 48 = 0 .

How many roots as the equation 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 (𝑥 + 2) + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 𝑥 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔 2 (𝑥 − 6) = 3 ?

..........................

Question 24
Categorisation: Determine the 𝒙 or 𝒚 intercepts of a logarithmic/exponential
function.

[Edexcel A2 Specimen Papers P2 Q6a]

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) , where

𝑓(𝑥) = (8 − 𝑥) 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0

The curve cuts the 𝑥 -axis at the points 𝐴 and 𝐵 and has a maximum turning point at 𝑄 , as
shown in Figure 2.

Find the 𝑥 coordinate of 𝐴 and the 𝑥 coordinate of 𝐵.

..........................

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Question 25
Categorisation: Determine the equation of the normal/tangent to a curve.

[Edexcel AS SAM P1 Q15]

The curve 𝐶1 , shown in Figure 3, has equation 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 4

1
The point 𝑃 (2 , 2) lies on 𝐶1 . The curve 𝐶2 , also shown in Figure 3, has equation
1
𝑦 = 2 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑛 (2𝑥) . The normal to 𝐶1 at the point 𝑃 meets 𝐶2 at the point 𝑄.

Find the exact coordinates of 𝑄. (Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical

methods are not acceptable.)

..........................

Question 28
Categorisation: Determine the tangent to an exponential curve.

[Edexcel C3 June 2008 Q1b Edited]

The point 𝑃 lies on the curve with equation

𝑦 = 4𝑒 2𝑥+1
1
The 𝑦 -coordinate of 𝑃 is 8 . The 𝑥 -coordinate of 𝑃 is 2 ( 𝑙𝑛 2 − 1) .

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point 𝑃 in the form = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 , where 𝑎
and 𝑏 are exact constants to be found.

..........................

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Question 26
Categorisation: Consider roots/𝒚-intercepts of exponential graphs involving a
modulus.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q4b Edited]

Figure 1 shows a sketch of part of the curve with equation 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥) , where

𝑔(𝑥) = |4𝑒 2𝑥 − 25| , 𝑥 ∈ℝ.

The curve cuts the 𝑦 -axis at the point 𝐴 and meets the 𝑥 -axis at the point 𝐵 . The curve has
an asymptote 𝑦 = 𝑘 , where 𝑘 is a constant, as shown in Figure 1.

The equation 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 43 has a positive root at 𝑥 = 𝛼 .

𝛼 is a solution of 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑙𝑛 (𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐) where 𝑎 , 𝑏 and 𝑐 are to be found.

..........................

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Answers

Question 1 Question 11 Question 20

𝑥 = 1.43 𝑛 = 14 𝑓𝑔(𝑥) ≤ 4

Question 2 Question 12 Question 21

𝑥=8 𝑥 = 0.56 or 𝑥 = 0 𝑥5
𝑙𝑜𝑔 3 (81) = 5𝑎 − 4

Question 3 Question 13 Question 22

𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 2 + 3 𝑙𝑜𝑔 9
𝑥= −4 𝑦 = 1 or 𝑦 = 0.37
𝑙𝑜𝑔 2
Question 4
Question 14 Question 23
7
𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛 (2) or 𝑥 = "0 OR none OR zero"
3 𝑎 = 20 , 𝑏 = 2
𝑙𝑛 ( )
2
Question 24
Question 15
Question 5 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = 8
7
𝑥=
4+ 𝑙𝑛 3
𝑥 = 4 − 4√2
Question 25
Question 16
Question 6 1 7 1 7 7
( 𝑒 4, 𝑒 4 + )
−1 + 𝑙𝑛 10 2 4 4
4𝑒 2 − 5 𝑥=
𝑦= 3 + 𝑙𝑛 2
2 + 𝑒2 Question 28
Question 17
Question 7 𝑦 = 16𝑥 + 16 − 8 𝑙𝑛 2
𝑔𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥
𝑥=
7 Question 26
5 Question 18 1 1
𝑎 = 2 , 𝑏 = 2 , 𝑐 = 17
Question 8 1
𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 2 𝑙𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑘 2 ) ,
𝑥 = 1 or 𝑥 = 225 𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛: = 𝑥 > 𝑘 2

Question 9 Question 27
𝑎−5 1
𝑏= 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 2 (𝑒 𝑥 + 1)
9

Question 10 Question 19
𝑒
𝑁 = 44
√2

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