IB Mathematics SL & HL

exponents & logarithms - 1

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4 questions ̶ progressing from ‘accessible’ to ‘discriminating’

1. Given that h  logb 3 and k  logb 4 , express the following in terms of h and/or k.
(a) logb 12 (b) logb 16 (c) logb 0.75 [ no calculator ]

2. Consider the functions f  x   e2 x 1 and g  x   ln x . [ calculator allowed ]

(a) (i) Find f 1  x  (ii) Find g 1  x 

(b) Show that g  f  x    x 

1
2

3. The half-life of Thallium-201 is 73 hours. How many hours will it take for an amount
of Thallium-201 to decay so that only 5% of the original amount remains?
[ calculator allowed ]

Solve the equation  3x  42 x 1   6 x 2 and express the solution in the form x 

ln p
4.
ln q
where p, q  . [ no calculator ]

© InThinking – IB Maths HL & SL 1

IB Mathematics SL & HL

exponents & logarithms - 1

Answers

1. (a) h  k (b) 2k (c) h  k

1
2. (a) (i) f 1  x    ln x  1 (ii) g 1  x   e2x
2

3. approximately 316 hours

ln 9  ln 81 
4. x  or x  ln 64 
ln 8

© InThinking – IB Maths HL & SL 2