Lecture 29

Exponential Function

A function of the form f(x) = bx , where b > 0, is called an exponential function with
base b. Some examples are
𝑥
1 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 2 , 𝑓(𝑥) = ( ) , 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝜋 𝑥
2
➢ Note that an exponential function has a constant base and variable exponent.
➢ Thus, functions such as f(x) = x2 and f(x) = xπ would not be classified as
exponential functions, since they have a variable base and a constant
exponent.

The graph of y = bx has the following properties:

➢ The graph passes through (0, 1) because b0 = 1.

➢ If b > 1, the value of bx increases as x increases.
✓ As you traverse the graph of y = bx from left to right, the values of bx
increase indefinitely.
✓ If you traverse the graph from right to left, the values of bx decrease
toward zero but never reach zero.
✓ Thus, the x-axis is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of bx.
➢ If 0 < b < 1, the value of bx decreases as x increases.
✓ As you traverse the graph of y = bx from left to right, the values of bx
decrease toward zero but never reach zero.
✓ Thus, the x-axis is a horizontal asymptote of the graph of bx.
✓ If you traverse the graph from right to left, the values of bx increase
indefinitely.
➢ If b = 1, then the value of bx is constant.

1
DOMAIN AND RANGE OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION
The domain and range of the exponential function f(x) = bx can also be found by
examining the above Figure.

➢ If b > 0, then f(x) = bx is defined and has a real value for every real value of x,
so the natural domain of every exponential function is (−∞, +∞).
➢ If b > 0 and b ≠ 1, then the graph of y = bx increases indefinitely as it is
traversed in one direction and decreases toward zero but never reaches zero
as it is traversed in the other direction. This implies that the range of f(x) = bx
is (0, +∞).

Properties of the Exponential Function

1. The domain is the set of all real numbers or (−∞, +∞) using interval notation;
the range is the set of positive real numbers or (0, +∞) using interval notation.
2. There are no x-intercepts; the y-intercept is 1.
3. The x-axis (y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote as 𝑥 → ∞ [lim 𝑏 𝑥 = 0].
𝑥→∞
4. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙 , 𝟎 < 𝒃 < 𝟏 is a decreasing function and is one-to-one.
1
5. The graph of f contains the points (0,1), (1, b), and (−1, ).
𝑏
6. The graph of f is smooth and continuous, with no corners or gaps.

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
➢ A logarithm is an exponent.
➢ More precisely, if b > 0 and b ≠ 1, then for a positive value of x the expression
logbx (read “the logarithm to the base b of x”) denotes that exponent to which
b must be raised to produce x.

Example
log10100 = 2, log10(1/1000) = −3, log2 16 = 4, logb 1 = 0, logb b = 1
102 = 100 10−3 = 1/1000 24 = 16 b0 = 1 b1 = b

We call the function f(x) = logbx the logarithmic function with base b.

❖ Logarithmic functions can also be viewed as inverses of exponential functions.

2
Theorem: If b > 0 and b ≠ 1, then bx and logb x are inverse functions.

It follows from this theorem that the graphs of y = bx and y = logbx are
reflections of one another about the line y = x (see the following Figure for the
case where b > 1).

➢ The most important logarithms in applications are those with base e.

➢ These are called natural logarithms because the function logex is the inverse
of the natural exponential function ex.
➢ It is standard to denote the natural logarithm of x by ln x (read “ell en of x”),
rather than logex.

Example
ln1 = 0, ln e = 1, ln1/e = −1, ln(e2) = 2
Since e0 = 1 Since e1 = e Since e−1 = 1/e Since e2 = e2

In general,
y = ln x if and only if x = ey

❖ It also follows from the cancellation properties of inverse functions that

𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 (𝑏 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 for all real values of x

𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥 for x > 0

In the special case where b = e, these equations become

ln (ex) = x for all real values of x

eln x = x for x > 0

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Example:
log 10x = x, 10log x = x,
ln ex = x, eln x = x,
ln e5 = 5, eln π = π

SOLVING EQUATIONS INVOLVING EXPONENTIALS AND LOGARITHMS

Theorem: If b > 0, b ≠1, a > 0, c > 0, and r is any real number, then:

(a) logb(ac) = logb a + logb c Product property

(b) logb(a/c) = logb a − logb c Quotient property
(c) logb(ar ) = r logb a Power property
(d ) logb(1/c) = −logb c Reciprocal property

These properties are often used to expand a single logarithm into sums, differences,
and multiples of other logarithms and, conversely, to condense sums, differences,
and multiples of logarithms into a single logarithm.

Example

𝑥𝑦 5 5 5
1 1
𝑙𝑜𝑔 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥𝑦 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔√𝑧 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑧 2
= 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 + 5𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑧
√𝑧 2
32.3
5𝑙𝑜𝑔2 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔8 = log 32 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔8 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 = log 12
8
1 1
ln 𝑥 − ln(𝑥 2 − 1) + 2 ln(𝑥 + 3) = 𝑙𝑛𝑥 3 − ln(𝑥 2 − 1) + ln (𝑥 + 3)2
3
3
√𝑥 (𝑥 + 3)2
= 𝑙𝑛
(𝑥 2 − 1)

Example: Find x such that

(a) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 = √2 (b) ln (x+1) = 5 (c) 5𝑥 = 7

Solution:
(a) Converting the equation to exponential form yields
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥 = √2 => 𝑥 = 10√2 ≈ 25.95

(b) Converting the equation to exponential form yields

4
 ln (x+1) = 5 => x + 1 = e5 or x = e5 − 1 ≈148.41-1≈ 147.41
(c) Taking the natural logarithm of both sides and using the power property of
logarithms yields.

ln 7
ln 5𝑥 = ln 7 𝑜𝑟 x ln 5 = ln 7 or x = ≈ 1.21
ln 5

Example: A satellite that requires 7 watts of power to operate at full capacity is

equipped with a radioisotope power supply whose power output P in watts is given
by the equation
P = 75e−t/125
where t is the time in days that the supply is used. How long can the satellite operate
at full capacity?

Solution. The power P will fall to 7 watts when

7 = 75e−t/125
The solution for t is as follows:
7/75 = e−t/125
ln(7/75) = ln(e−t/125)
ln(7/75) = −t/125
t = −125 ln(7/75) ≈ 296.4
so, the satellite can operate at full capacity for about 296 days.

Example: Solve
𝑒 𝑥 −𝑒 −𝑥
= 1 for x.
2
Solution. Multiplying both sides of the given equation by 2 yields

𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 = 2
or equivalently,
1
𝑒𝑥 − 𝑥 = 2
𝑒
Multiplying through by ex yields
e2x − 1 = 2ex
or e2x − 2ex − 1 = 0
or (𝑒 𝑥 )2 − 2𝑒 𝑥 − 1 = 0

and letting u = ex to obtain

5
 u2 − 2u − 1 = 0
Solving for u by the quadratic formula yields

2 ± √4 + 4 2 ± √8 2 ± 2√2
𝑢= = = = 1 ± √2
2 2 2
𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
or, since u = ex ,

𝑒 𝑥 = 1 ± √2
But ex cannot be negative, so we discard the negative value 1 − √2; thus,

𝑒 𝑥 = 1 + √2
𝑙𝑛𝑒 𝑥 = ln (1 + √2)
𝑥 = ln(1 + √2) ≈ 0.881