Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Learning Outcomes
When you have completed this chapter you will be able to:
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8.1 Exponential Functions
Exponential functions are equations of the form:
ݕൌ ܾܽ ௫
with base ܾ where ܽ ് Ͳǡ ܾ Ͳǡ and ܾ ് ͳ. By considering the specific exponential function ݕൌ
݂ሺݔሻ ൌ ʹ௫ , the following is noted:
1. The exponential function is defined for all real values of ݔ. For the variable ݔbeing
negative, the function is expressed as ݕൌ ݃ሺݔሻ ൌ ʹି௫ . The domain of the function is the
set of real numbers.
2. For the variable ݔbeing an element of integers, the function takes on a positive value. The
exponential function ʹ௫ can never represent a negative number, nor can ʹ௫ be equal to Ͳ.
The range of the function is the set of all positive real numbers.
3. An asymptote is a line that a graph approaches as ݔ՜ λ or as ݔ՜ െλ.
NB: For the range and ݕ-intercept, not the case if a term is added/subtracted to exponential term
such as ݕൌ ʹ௫ ͷ.
If ܽ is positive, the function ݕൌ ܾܽ ௫ can be classified as exponential growth or exponential decay.
In the case where ܽ, is positive, we note that:
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x If ܾ ͳ, then the function is classified as exponential growth.
x If Ͳ ൏ ܾ ൏ ͳ, then the function is classified as exponential decay.
x If ܽ is negative, then it is neither exponential growth nor exponential decay.
Using the table method to sketch the function, ݕൌ ʹ௫ , we find the coordinates of ݔand ݕvalues
in the following table.
ݔ -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
ݕൌ ʹ௫ ͳ ͳ ͳ ͳ ʹ Ͷ ͺ
ͺ Ͷ ʹ
The table indicates that the function is increasing and the curve drawn using the table will be
concave upward. The ݔ-axis is a horizontal asymptote toward the left. Thus, the function ݕൌ ʹ௫ ՜
Ͳ as ݔ՜ െλ so that ݕൌ Ͳ is a horizontal asymptote to the left. In sketching the exponential
భ
function, ݕൌ ʹ௫ , we made use of the property ʹି ൌ ʹ .
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Consider the exponential graph ࢟ ൌ ࢞
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Let us now consider the exponential function ݕൌ െ͵ሺʹሻ௫ . Using the table method to sketch the
function, ݕൌ െ͵ሺʹሻ௫ , we find the coordinates of ݔand ݕvalues in the following table.
ݔ -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
௫ െ͵ െ͵ െ͵
ݕൌʹ െ͵ െ െͳʹ ʹͶ
ͺ Ͷ ʹ
In the equation, ܽ gives the shape of the graph and also determines on which side of the
asymptote the exponential function lies. The product of ܽ and the value of ܾ determines whether
the function is increasing or decreasing. The value of ݍdetermines the vertical translation (up or
down) and the line ݕൌ ݍis a horizontal asymptote. The value of gives a horizontal translation.
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Example
ଵ ௫
Consider the given function ݕൌ ʹ ቀଶቁ ͳ. State the domain and range. List any asymptotes.
Determine whether the function is exponential growth, exponential decay or neither. List any
translations.
Solution:
ݕൌ ݁௫
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Now let us consider the sketch of the
graphs of ݃ሺݔሻ ൌ ݁ ି௫ and ݄ሺݔሻ ൌ െ݁ ௫ on
the same axes. Rather than plotting
points, we can sketch these curves by
making use of the graph of ݕൌ ݁ ௫ . The
reflection of the graph of ݕൌ ݁ ௫ through
the ݕ-axis gives the graph of ݕൌ ݁ ି௫ . We
can also reflect the graph of ݕൌ ݁௫
through the ݔ-axis to find the graph of
ݕൌ െ݁ ௫ .
1. Domain: ܴ א ݔ
2. Range: ݕ ݉
3. Horizontal asymptote ݕൌ ݉
4. Increasing function for ݊ Ͳ
5. Decreasing function for ݊ ൏ Ͳ
6. ݔ-intercept, depends on the sign of ݉, ie. If ݉ is positive, no ݔ-intercept but if ݉ is negative,
express the equation in log form and find ݔ.
7. ݕ-intercept, make ݔൌ Ͳ.
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8.4 Laws of exponents and Natural exponential functions
Exercise 8.1
Simplify
1. ݁ ି௫ Ǥ ݁ ଶ௫
ర
2.
య
ೣ ା మೣ
3.
మೣ ା యೣ
4. ݁ ௫ ሺ݁ ௫ െ ݁ ି௫ ሻ
మೣ ିଵ
5.
ೣ ାଵ
మೣశయ Ǥ ఱೣ
6.
ೣశమ
7. ξ݁ ଶ௫ ʹ݁ ଶ௫ାଵ ݁ ଶ௫ାଶ
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Answers
1. ݁ ௫ 2. ݁ ௧ 3. ݁ ି௫ 4. ሺ݁ ௫ െ ͳሻሺ݁ ௫ ͳሻ
5 . ݁௫ െ ͳ 6. ʹ 7. ݁ ௫ାଵ 8. ݁ ௫ ሺ݁ ௫ ͳሻ
Example1: Sketch the graphs of ݂ሺݔሻ ൌ ͵ି௫ ǡ ݂ ିଵ ሺݔሻ and ݕൌ ݔon the same set of axes and state
the domain and range of ݂ሺݔሻ and ݂ ିଵ ሺݔሻ.
ͳ ௫ ݂ ିଵ ሺݔሻǣ ݔൌ ͵௬
݂ሺݔሻ ൌ ͵ି௫ ൌ ൬ ൰
͵ ݕൌ െ݈݃ଷ ݕݎݔൌ ݈݃ଵ ݔ
ଷ
Ͳ൏ܾ൏ͳ
Ͳ൏ܾ൏ͳ
x Decreasing function
x Decreasing function, substitute a
x ݕ-intercept: (0;1)
point in for ݔeg: ݔൌ ͵
x Substitute a point in for ݔeg: ݔൌ െͳ,
x Hence point is ሺ͵Ǣെͳሻ
hence the point is ሺെͳǢ ͵ሻ
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݂ሺݔሻǣ ݂ ିଵ ሺݔሻ ൌ ݕൌ െ݈݃ଷ ݔ
Domain: ܴ א ݔ Domain: א ݔሺͲǢ λሻ
Range: א ݕሺͲǢ λሻ Range: ܴ א ݕ
ݕൌ ݈݃ ݔis symmetrical to ݕൌ ܾ ௫ about the line ݕൌ ݔ
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The reflection of the points are shown.
Figure: Natural Logarithmic graph ࢍሺ࢞ሻ ൌ ࢞ and Natural Exponential graph ࢌሺ࢞ሻ ൌ ࢋ࢞
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Characteristics of ࢟ ൌ ࢌሺ࢞ሻ ൌ ࢍ࢈ ሺ࢞ െ Characteristics of ࢟ ൌ ࢌሺ࢞ሻ ൌ ሺ࢞ െ ሻ,
ሻ, where ࢈ ࡾ אǡ ࢈ and ࢈ ് where ࢋ ࡾ אǡ ࢋ and e്
1. Domain: ܦ ൌ ቄܴ א ݔȁ ݔ ቅǤ 1. Domain: ܦ ൌ ቄܴ א ݔȁ ݔ ቅǤ
2. Range: ܴ ൌ ܴ 2. Range: ܴ ൌ ܴ
3. ݂ increases when ܾͳ and 3. ݂ increases when ݁ ʹ and
decreases when Ͳ ൏ ܾ ൏ ͳ. decreases when ʹ ൏ ݁ ൏ ͵.
4. ݂ is a one-to-one function. 4. ݂ is a one-to-one function.
5. The graph of ݂ cuts the ݔ-axis at 5. The graph of ݂ cuts the ݔ-axis at
ሺͳǢ Ͳሻ. ሺͳǢ Ͳሻ.
6. The vertical asymptote of the 6. The vertical asymptote of the
graph is the negative ࢟-axis when graph is the negative ࢟-axis
ܾ ͳ and the positive ࢟-axis when when ݁ ʹ and the positive ࢟-
Ͳ ൏ ܾ ൏ ͳ. axis when ʹ ൏ ݁ ൏ ͵.
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Exercise 8.2
Sketch each pair of functions on the same axes and determine the following foe both graphs:
range, domain, asymptote and ݔ-intercept.
Answers
1.
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2.
3.
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4.
5.
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8.7 Laws of Logarithms and Natural logarithm
The logarithm is generally an exponent, as a result, it is expected that it must follow the laws
of exponents. The laws of logarithm is given in the table below:
Exercise 8.3
Simplify
Exercise 8.4
ሺ௫ିଵሻሺ௫ାଷሻమ ଵ
1. ݈݊ , answer: ሺ ݔെ ͳሻ ʹ ሺ ݔ ͵ሻ െ ଶ ሺ ݔଶ ʹሻ
ξ௫ మ ାଶ
ଵ
2. ݈݊ඥ ݔଷ ሺ ݔ ͳሻ, answer: ଶ ሾ͵݈݊ ݔ ሺ ݔ ͳሻሿ
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Exercise 8.5
ଵ
1. ଶ
݈݊ݔ ሺ ݔଶ ͷሻ , answer: ݈݊ξݔሺ ݔଶ ͷሻ
ଵ ଵ ξ௫
2. ݈݊ݔ െ ʹ ሺ ݔെ ͳሻ െ ଷ ሺ ݔଶ ͳሻ, answer: ݈݊ ሺ௫ିଵሻమ ሺ௫మ
ଶ ାଵሻభȀయ
௫ మ ሺ௫ మ ିଵሻ
3. ሺ ݔଶ െ ͳሻ െ ͵ ሺ ݔ Ͷሻ ʹ ݔ, answer: ቀ ሺ௫ାସሻయ
ቁ
௫య௬
4. ଶ ݔଷ െ ଶ ሺ ݔ ͵ሻସ ଶ ݕ, answer: ଶ ቀሺ௫ାଷሻర ቁ
Exercise 8.6
Solve the following exponential and logarithmic equations without using a calculator.
6. ͷሺ ݔଶ െ Ͷሻ ൌ ሺ ݔଶ െ Ͷሻ݁ ି௫ ൌ Ͳ, answer: ݔൌ േʹ ݔݎൌ െ ݈݊ͷ
ଵ ଽ
7. Ͷ݁ ଵାଷ௫ െ ͻ݁ ହିଶ௫ ൌ Ͳ, answer: ݔൌ ହ ሺͶ ݈݊ ସሻ
ଵ
8. ሺ݁ ௫ ݁ ି௫ ሻ ൌ ͵ answer: ͵ േ ʹξʹ
ଶ
ଵ
9. ሺ݁ ௫ െ ݁ ି௫ ሻ ൌ െ݁ answer: ሺെ݁ ξ݁ ଶ ͳሻ
ଶ
ೣ ି షೣ ଶ
10. ൌ answer: ݈݊ξͷ
ೣ ା షೣ ଷ
ೣ ି షೣ ଵ ାଵ
11. ൌ answer: ݈݊ටିଵ
ೣ ା షೣ
మ
12. ʹ݈݊ξ ݔെ ሺͳ െ ݔሻ ൌ ʹ, answer: ݔൌ
ଵା మ
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14. ݈݊݁ ξ௫ାଵ ൌ ͵ answer: 8
మ ିସሻ ସ
15. ݁ ୪୬ሺ௫ ൌ ͷݔ answer: ଷ
మ ିሻ
16. ݁ ୪୬ሺଷ௫ ൌ െݔ answer: െ͵ݕ݈݊
మ ିଶሻ
17. ݁ ୪୬ሺହ௫ ൌ െ͵ݔ answer: െͳݕ݈݊
18. ሺ ݔ ʹሻ ݈݊ ݔଶ ൌ ݈݊ݔ answer: െͳ ξʹ
19. ݈݊ ݔ ሺ ݔ ʹሻ ൌ ͳ answer: െͳ ξͳ ݁
ଷ భబ ିଶ
20. ሺ͵ െ ݔሻ ൌ ሺ ݔ ʹሻ െ ͳͲ answer: Ͳݎ ଵା భబ
Exercise 8.7
1) The graph of ݂ሺݔሻ ൌ ܾ ௫ ݍhas an asymptote of ݕൌ െʹ and passes through the point
ሺ͵Ǣ ሻ.
5.1 Determine the values of ܾ and ݍ. Answer ܾ ൌ ʹ and ൌ െʹ
5.2 Determine the coordinates of the ݔand ݕ-intercepts. Answer ݔ-int: ሺͳǢ Ͳሻ and ݕ-
int:ሺͲǢെͳሻ
2) If the graph of ݂ሺݔሻ ൌ ܽ ௫ and ܽ Ͳ, determine:
ଶହ ହ
The value of ܽ if the graph passes through the point ቀʹǢ ଵቁ. Answer ܽ ൌ ସ
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