EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

I. Definition
1. Exponential Function – a function with base 𝑏, defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑥 , given the condition
that 𝑏 > 0, 𝑏 ≠ 1, and 𝑥 is a real number.
a. Domain: (−∞, +∞)
b. Range: (0, +∞)
2. Consider the function: 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 .
a. 2𝑥 → 0+ as 𝑥 → −∞
b. 2𝑥 → +∞ as 𝑥 → +∞

II. Graphs and Translation of Graphs

1. Translations from the Parent Function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙
a. Vertical Shift
i. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄: Up 𝑐 units
ii. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙 − 𝒄: Down 𝑐 units
b. Horizontal Shift
i. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙+𝒄 : Left 𝑐 units
ii. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒃𝒙−𝒄 : Right 𝑐 units
c. Reflection
i. 𝒈(𝒙) = −𝒃𝒙 : Reflection in the x-axis
ii. 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝒃−𝒙 : Reflection in the y-axis

Examples

1. Sketch the graph of the following functions and identify the domain and range.
3 𝑥
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = ( )
4
4 −2𝑥
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = ( )
11
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥+2 − 4
d. 𝑓(𝑥) = −24𝑥−1 + 1
2. Use the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 to produce the following graphs:
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2
b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥−2
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = −3𝑥
 III. Natural Exponential Function
1. Natural Exponential Function – a function defined by the equation: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 .
a. Euler Number – the number 𝑒, named after Leonhard Euler. The Euler Number
is equal to 2.71828...
2. Natural Logarithmic Function (𝐥𝐧 𝒙) – the inverse function of the exponential function 𝑒 𝑥 .
It is a logarithm to the base 𝑒.

RULE NAME RULE

Product Rule ln(𝑥 ∙ 𝑦) = ln 𝑥 + ln 𝑦
Quotient Rule ln(𝑥 ⁄𝑦) = ln 𝑥 − ln 𝑦
Power Rule ln(𝑥 𝑦 ) = 𝑦 ln 𝑥
Natural Exponential Function ln 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑥
ln 𝑥 = ln 𝑦 ↔ 𝑥 = 𝑦
One-to-One Rule
𝑥𝑎 = 𝑥𝑏 ↔ 𝑎 = 𝑏

OTHER PROPERTIES
ln 𝑒 = 1
ln 0 = ∞

Examples

1. Solve the following natural exponential functions:

a. 5𝑒 −3𝑥 + 1 = 11
b. 𝑒 2𝑥 − 6𝑒 𝑥 − 7 = 0
c. 𝑒 3𝑥+1 = 6𝑒 1−𝑥

IV. Exponential Equations and Inequalities

1. Exponential Equations / Inequalities – equations / inequalities in which the exponents
are variables.
a. If 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦 , then 𝑥 = 𝑦.
b. If 𝑏 𝑥 <, ≤, >, ≥ 𝑏 𝑦 , then 𝑥 <, ≤, >, ≥ 𝑦.

Examples

1. Solve the following exponential equations and inequalities:

a. 42𝑥−1 = 64
1 4𝑥+1
b. ( ) = 82𝑥+1
2
1 −7𝑥+10 1 8−3𝑥
c. ( ) =( )
625 3125
d. 5𝑥+8 ≤ 625
1 3𝑥+5 1 𝑥−6
e. ( ) ≥( )
9 243
2. Consider the following equations with different bases. Solve for 𝑥.
4 𝑥
a. ( ) = 61−𝑥
5
b. 32𝑥−1 = 5𝑥+2
V. Applications

RATE COMPOUNDED
CONTINUOUS
ANNUALLY OR RATE COMPOUNDED
EXPONENTIAL
MULTIPLE TIMES CONTINUOUSLY
GROWTH OR DECAY
PER YEAR
𝑟 𝑛𝑡
Growth 𝐹 = 𝑃 (1 + ) 𝐹 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 , 𝑟 > 0 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝐴0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡 , 𝑘 > 0
𝑛
𝑟 𝑛𝑡
Decay 𝐹 = 𝑃 (1 − ) 𝐹 = 𝑃𝑒 −𝑟𝑡 , 𝑟 < 0 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝐴0 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 , 𝑘 < 0
𝑛
𝑨(𝒕) = ending amount
𝑭 = future value or ending amount
𝑨𝟎 = starting amount
𝑷 = present value or starting amount
𝒌 = continuous growth
𝒓 = growth or decay rate per year
rate
𝒏 = number of times the interest is compounded
𝒕 = time that has
per year
passed
𝒆 = base
𝒆 = base

DOUBLING TIME HALF LIFE

𝑵(𝒕) = amount of
substance after time
𝑡 𝑵𝟎 = original amount
Growth 𝑁(𝑡) = 𝑁0 (2)𝑑 of substance
𝒕 = elapsed time
𝒅 = doubling time
𝑨(𝒕) = amount of
substance after time
𝑡
1 ℎ 𝑨𝟎 = original amount
Decay 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝐴0 ( )
2 of substance
𝒕 = elapsed time
𝒉 = half-life period

WHEN COMPOUNDED 𝒏
Daily 365
Weekly 52
Monthly 12
Quarterly 4
Semi-Annually 2
Examples

1. A cup of coffee is heated to 160oF and placed in a room that maintains a temperature of 70oF. The
temperature 𝑇 of the coffee, in degrees Fahrenheit, after 𝑡 minutes, is given by: 𝑇 = 70 +
90𝑒 −0.0485𝑡 .
a. Find the temperature of the coffee, to the nearest degree, 20 minutes after it is placed in
the room.
b. Determine when the temperature will reach 90oF.
2. A certain type of bacteria, given a favorable growth medium, doubles in population every 6.5 hours.
Given that there were approximately 100 bacteria to start with, how many bacteria will there be in
a day and a half?
3. The half-life of iodine-131 is 8.1 days. How long will it take for 100 g of iodine-131 to decay to 77.4
g?
4. The initial population of a town is 3500, and it grows with a doubling time of 10 years.
a. What will be the population in 12 years?
b. How many years will it take for the population to be 18,473?