Exponential Functions

1 - Basic Exponential Function:

y
a) Increasing Exponential Function:
x
f
f(x) = c c>1 x

c=2
x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x)

c=2
x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x) 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
b) Decreasing Exponential Function: y

x
f
f(x) = c 0<c<1 x

c = 1/2
x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x)

c = 1/2
x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x) 8 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8
2 - Transformed Exponential Function:

f(x) = a ● cx

Example: g(x) = -8●2x

x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x)

Example: g(x) = -8●2x

x -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3
f(x) -1 -2 -4 -8 -16 -32 -64
3 - The effect of parameters ( "a" & "c")

Parameters a<0 a>0

0<c<1
c>1

3 - The effect of parameters ( "a" & "c")

Parameters a<0 a>0

0 < c < 1 Increasing Decreasing
c>1 Decreasing Increasing

Exercise: p. 53 (Book 2) #2
0 – Characteristics

Char. a > 0 a>0 a<0 a<0

c>1 0<c<1 c>1 0<c<1
Dom IR IR IR IR
Ran ]0,¥[ ]0,¥[ ] -¥ , 0 [ ] -¥ , 0 [
IV a a a a
Zero Æ Æ Æ Æ
Pos IR IR Æ Æ
Neg Æ Æ IR IR
Inc IR Æ Æ IR
Dec Æ IR IR Æ
Min Æ Æ Æ Æ
Max Æ Æ Æ Æ
4 – Reducing the Exponent (if necessary)

Use the property of exponents

cm●n = ( cm )n = ( c n ) m
Example: y = 5(2)-3x

y = 5 ( (2)-3 )x

y = 5 ( 0.125 )x

or y = 5 ( 1/8 )x

Exercises: p.53 #3
6 - Finding the Rule of Correspondence

Given the Initial Value ( 0 , a ) and a Point (x , y)

1 - Substitute a, x and y ( use x = 1 if possible )

into the function rule: f(x) = a ● cx

2 - Solve for "c"

3 - Re-write the rule using a and c

Example 1

x 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 2

f(x) 3 6 12 24 48 768

1- f(x) = a ● cx 48 = 3 ● c1

2- c = 16

3- f(x) = 3 ● (16)x
Example 2

x 0 1 2 3
y 1000 1080 1166.40 1259.71

t
f(x) = 1000 • ( 1.08 )

Exercises: p.54 #7
 SOLVING EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

Review: Solving Exp. Equ. of the Form cm = cn

Ex: f(x) = 5 ( 23x ) if f(x) = 320, x = ?

5 ( 23x ) = 320

( 23x ) = 320 ÷ 5

( 23x ) = 64

23x = 26

3x = 6

x=2
 Solving ANY Exponential Equation

In particular of the form cm = d

where “d” is not a power of “c”

new formula:

if cm = d

then m●Log ( c ) = Log ( d )

“Log ( )” is a special function that is the opposite

of an exponential function
Ex: 23 = 8 => 3●Log ( 2 ) = Log ( 8 )

0.903 = 0.903

Ex: 1.94.2 = 14.817 => 4.2●Log ( 1.9 ) = 1.171

= Log ( 14.817 ) = 1.171

 Using Logs to Solve Exp. Equ.

Ex: 2 ( 32x ) + 30 = 40

Step 1: cm = d

( 32x ) = 5

Step 2: m●Log ( c ) = Log ( d )

2x●Log ( 3 ) = Log ( 5 )

2x● (0.477) = (0.699)

Step 3: Solve x = 0.733

Step 4: Check solution by substitution

2 ( 32(0.733) ) + 30 = 40

40.01 = 40