Math 141 – Exam 4 Review solns This is NOT intended to be comprehensive!

1) State the domain of each of the following functions.

a) y = ex {x | x is any real number}

b) y = log x {x | x > 0

2) Fill in the following table:

Function Base, b y-intercept Growth or Growth or

decay? decay rate
y = 2(1.08) x 1.08 2 or (0,2) Growth 8%

y = 6(0.87) x 0.87 6 or (0,6) Decay 13%

y = 3e −0.07 x don’t worry 3 or (0,3) Decay (r is 7%

about it negative) continuous
y = 23(1.12) x 1.12 (0, 23) Growth 12%

3) Find an equation for an exponential passing through the points (-2, 5) and (3, 160)

f(x) = abx, so 5 = ab-2 and 160 = ab3. Solving the first for a, a = 5/b-2.
Substituting into the second equation, 160 = (5/b-2)b3. Simplifies to 160 = 5b5, 32
= b5, b = 2. Back sub to get a = 5/2-2 = 5*4 = 20. f(x) = 20(2)x.

4) According to one source, in 1984 there were approximately 1500 AIDS cases in
California. By 1986 there were 4000 cases. Uncontrolled, a virus tends to spread
exponentially. Assuming the virus were to spread uncontrolled,

a) Write an equation for the number of AIDS cases t years after 1984.

(0, 1500) & (2, 4000). f(x) = abx. a = 1500. f(x) = 1500bx. When x = 2,
4000=1500b2, so b2 = 8/3, so b = 1.633. Thus f(x) = 1500*1.633x.

b) Describe your equation in words

The number of infected people started at 1500 in 1984 and is growing by 63% each
year.

c) According to your model, how many people would have been infected in
California in 2001?

2001-1984 = 17 years. f(17) = 1500*1.63317 = 6.24 million

5) A population can be described by P(t) = 200(1.05)t. What is the doubling time for
this population?

In other words, how long will it take for the population to reach 400? 400 =
200(1.05)t. 2 = 1.05t -> log(2) = log(1.05t) -> log(2) = t log(1.05) -> t =
log(2)/log(1.05) = 14.2 years.

6) Solve each of the equations below for x using algebra and properties of logarithms and
exponents. Show all steps!

a) 4(1.7)x = 7(1.08)x

1.7x/1.08x = 7/4 -> (1.7/1.08)x = 7/4 -> 1.57x = 1.75 -> log(1.57x) = log(1.75) ->
x*log(1.57) = log(1.75) -> x = log(1.75)/log(1.57) = 1.233

b) 3ex+5 = 7

ln(ex+5) = ln(7/3) -> x+5 = ln(7/3) -> x = ln(7/3) - 5

c) log (x + 3) = 3

103 = x +3 -> x = 103 - 3

d) log (x - 1) + log(x + 1) = 2

log[(x-1)(x+1)] = 2 -> 102 = (x-1)(x+1) -> 100 = x2 -1 -> 101 = x2 -> x = +-

sqrt(101), but only positive value will work. x = sqrt(101)

7) A population doubles every 8 years. Assuming exponential growth, find the

a) Continuous growth rate

aek8 = 2a -> ek8 = 2 -> 8k = ln(2) -> k = ln(2)/8 = .08664

b) Annual growth rate

ek = b = 1+r -> e0.08664 = 1+r -> r = .0905

8) Alex invests $4000 in a money-market account earning 6% compounded monthly.

Shauna invests $2000 in a mutual fund earning 9% compounded quarterly. When will
their accounts be worth the same amount?

Alex's account: 4000(1+.06/12)12t

Shauna's account: 2000(1+.09/4)4t
 4000(1+.06/12)12t = 2000(1+.09/4)4t -> 4000(1.005)12t = 2000(1.0225)4t ->
t
1.0225 4t  1.0225 4 
2= -> 2 =   -> log(2) = log(1.02958t) -> log(2) = t
12 
1.00512t  1 . 005 
log(1.02958) -> t = log2/log1.02958 = 23.78 years

9) Suppose the half-life of Kryptonite is 300 years. (give answers to 4 decimal places)

a) What is the annual decay rate?

0.5 = 1(1+r)300 -> 1+r = 0.51/300 -> r = -0.00231 decay rate: 0.2308%

b) What is the continuous decay rate?

ek = 1+r -> ek = .9977 -> k = ln(.9977) = -.00231 rate: .2310%

10) Rewrite as a single logarithm: 2log(x) + 3log(2)

= log(x2) + log(23) = log(8x2)

11) Write an equation for the exponential graphed below

Horizontal asymptote at y=2, so f(x) = abx+2.

Plug in (0,-1) to get -1 = ab0+2 -3 = a
Plug in (1,-2) to get -2 = -3b1+2 -4=-3b b = 4/3
x
f(x) = -3(4/3) +2

12) Write the letter of the graph(s) that fit the description in the blank next to the
following descriptions.
____D______________ e. This/these graph(s) are linear
____AE_____________ f. This/these graph(s) are exponential
_____C_____________ g. This/these graph(s) are logarithmic

A B C D E