EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
An exponential function can be written as f(x) = bx
where, b > 0, b ≠ 1, and x is any real number.
b is the constant, called the base.
x is an independent variable called the exponent
Examples:
1. f(x) = 3x → the base is 3.
2. f(x) = 10x-1 → the base is 10.
3. f(x) = x 2
→ not exponential function because the variable is the base and
not the exponent.
4. f(x) = 1x → not exponential function because the base of exponential
function must be a positive constant other than the base.
5. f(x) = 3xx → not exponential function because both the base and the
exponent are variables.
Properties of Exponential Functions
1. The domain is the set of all real numbers (−∞, +∞).
2. The range is the set of all positive real numbers (0, +∞).
3. It is a one-to-one function. It satisfies the Horizontal Line Test.
4. The y-intercept is 1 because f(0) = b0 = 1. There is no x-intercept.
5. The horizontal asymptote is the line y=0 (or the x-axis). There is no vertical asymptote.
6. The function is increasing if b > 1, and is decreasing if 0 < b <1.
Examples:
1. Sketch the graph of f(x)=2x. Indicate the domain, range, y-intercept, and horizontal asymptote.
Solution:
Construct a table of values or ordered pairs for the given function.
X -4 -3 -2 -2 0 1 2 3
(x) 1 1 1 1
1 2 4 8
16 8 4 2
Domain: Set of all real numbers
Range: Set of all positive real
numbers
y-intercept: 1 (there is no x-intercept)
Horizontal asymptote: y= 0
Using geogebra software, graph the functions
1𝑥
1) 𝑓(𝑥) = 5
2) 𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑥
3) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥
4) 𝑓(𝑥) = 5−𝑥