 Exponential functions (22.

Le Quan)
 Logarithmic functions (15. Dang Minh)
Exponential functions
1. Introduction
- An exponential function is a function in the form f(x) = ax where a is a fixed positive number.
Constant a is also called the base of the exponent.
- The formula to define exponential growth is y = a(1 + r)x
- The formula to define exponential decay is y = a(1 - r)x
- The domain of f(x) = ax is the entire real line (-∞,∞) whereas the range of f(x) = ax is the set of
positive reals (0,∞)
2. General properties
- The graph of y = ax can be shifted, stretched and translated. The graph of y = ax + 1 is a
translation left by 1 unit, but y = ax + 1 = a(ax) so the graph is also vertically stretched by a factor
of a. Therefore, horizontal translations of exponential functions can also be presented as the
vertical stretches.
- Exponential function that has base 10 is known as a common function:
1 1 1
1+ + + +…
1! 2! 3!
The value of this series is between 2 and 3, which is presented by e. Keeping e as the base, we
have y = ex. This is a natural exponential function
3. Graph

y = 2x

4. Application
- The exponential functions are often used to present bacteria growth/decay, population
growth/decline, and compound interest

Logarithmic functions
1. Introduction
- An logarithmic function is a function in the form f(x) = loga(x) where a > 0, a ≠ 1. When a = 1,
the graph is not defined.
- In this form, a is the base, x is the argument and f(x) is the exponent.
- The graph of a logarithmic function always goes through the point (1, 0).
- This function is one-one mapping.
2. General properties
- Domain: x > 0, x  R
- Range: f(x)  R
- There are two main cases
+ 0 < a < 1: When the value of x nears 0, it comes toward ∞, and when the value of x
increases, it comes toward -∞. f(x) = loga(x) for which 0 < a < 1 is a decreasing function, and has
an asymptote along the y-axis. (See fig. 2.1)
+ a > 1: When the value of x nears 0, it comes toward -∞, and when the value of x increases, it
comes toward ∞. f(x) = loga(x) for which a > 1 is an increasing function, and has an asymptote
along the y-axis. (See fig. 2.2)
- Since logarithmic function is one-one mapping, it has inverse. ax (an exponential function) is
the inverse of loga(x), and vice versa.
- Special cases:
+ When x = a, f(x) = 1 (since something to the power of 1 equals to itself).
+ When a = 10, the function can be rewritten this way: f(x) = log10(x)  f(x) = lg(x)
+ Natural logarithmic function: In a natural logarithmic function, a = e (the base), where e is
Euler’s number ~ 2.718. The function can be rewritten this way: f(x) = loga(x)  f(x) = loge(x) 
f(x) = ln(x). The graph of this function goes through the point (e, 1). At that point, the gradient is
1/e and the line with that gradient is a tangent to the curve. (See fig. 2.3)
4. Applications
- Investment interest
- Population growth
- Carbon dating

***See figures below***

Fig. 2.1 Fig. 2.2 Fig. 2.3