CHAPTER 2

LOGARITHMIC AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter students should be able to

 graph exponential and logarithmic functions
 find f1(x) for exponential and logarithmic functions
 find the domain and range for exponential and logarithmic functions and their
inverses
 find the derivatives for exponential and logarithmic functions
 integrate functions involving exponential and logarithmic functions

2.0 Introduction

Common logarithms are logarithms with base 10, written as log10 or simply log were
the earliest logarithms being studied. However, in this chapter we will be discussing
the most important logarithms in application known as natural logarithms, denoted as
loge or more commonly written as ln. Students should be familiar with the properties
of logarithms learned in pre-calculus course as it is going to be helpful in solving
certain problems.

2.1 Graphing Exponential Function

Figure 2 shows the graph of y = ex.

y

From Figure 1:
y = ex
 lim ex =  and lim ex = 0
x  x  

 0
y intercept e = 1
 domain for ex is (,)
1
 range for ex is (0, )
x

Figure 1

Steps to sketch exponential function

1. Find lim ef(x)

x 

2. Find lim ef(x)

x  

3. Find y-intercept.

6
Logarithmic and exponential function 7

Example 1 Graph the following functions. Determine the domain and the range of
y.

a. f(x) = e4x+1 b. f(x) = 3e4 – x

1
c. f(x) = 2 x 1 d. f(x) = 3 + 2e2x+1
e

Solution

a. f(x) = e4x+1 y
1. Find lim ef(x) lim e 4x+1
= y=e
4x+1
x  x 

2. Find lim ef(x) lim e4x+1 = 0

x   x  
3. When x = 0, y = e; (0,e) e

x
Dy = (,) ; Ry = (0,)

b. f(x) = 3e4 – x
lim 3e4 – x = 0 y
x 
lim 3e4 – x =  y = 3e
4–x
x  
when x = 0, y = 3e4; (0,3e4)
4
3e
x

Dy = (,) ; Ry = (0,)

1 1
c. f(x) = 2 x 1
y= 2 x 1
y
e e
lim e –2 x – 1 = 0
x 
lim e –2 x – 1 = 
x   0.37
when x = 0, y = e – 1= 0.37; (0, e –1
) x

Dy = (,) ; Ry = (0,)

d. f(x) = 3 + 2e2x+1 Y y = 3e
2x+1

lim 3 + 2e2x+1 = 
x  8.4
lim 3 + 2e2x+1 = 3 3
x  
when x = 0, y = 8.4 x

Df : ( , ) ; Rf : (0, )
8 Logarithmic and exponential Function

2.2 Graphing logarithmic function

Figure 1 shows the graph of a natural logarithmic function y = ln x, x > 0.

From Figure 2, note that

y = ln x
 lim ln x = 
x 

 lim ln x =  
x x 0 
1
 when x = 1, y = 0
Figure 2  the domain of ln x is (0 , )
 the range of ln x is (,)

Steps to sketch ln f(x)

1. Find horizontal asymptote
2. Find vertical asymptote
3. Find x – intercept.

Example 2 Graph the following functions f(x). Hence, determine the range and the
domain of f(x).

a. f(x) = ln ( x – 2) b. f(x) = ln (2x + 1)

1
c. f(x) = ln d. f(x) = ln (2x  1) – ln x
x

Solution

a. f(x) = ln ( x – 2) y
y y = ln (x – 2)
1. Find horizontal asymptote:
lim ln ( x – 2) = 
x 

2. Find vertical asymptote:

x
x–2=0  x=2 0 2 3
3. Find x-intercept
x – 2 = 1  x = 3, i.e. (3,0)

Df = (2 , ) and Rf = (,)

b. f(x) = ln (2x + 1)
Logarithmic and exponential function 9

1. Find horizontal asymptote:

lim ln ( 2x + 1) = 
x 

2. Find vertical asymptote: y

1
2x + 1= 0  x= 
2
y = ln (2x + 1)

3. Find x when y = 0 x
½
2x + 1= 1 x=0 i.e. ( 0 ,0)

1
Df = (  , ) and Rf = (,)
2

1
c. f(x) = ln y
x
= ln 1 – ln x y = – ln x
= – ln x

Df = (0 , ) and Rf = (,)
y = ln x

d. f(x) = ln (2x  1) – ln x y
 2x  1 
= ln   ln 2
 x 
 1
= ln  2   1 x
 x
y = ln (2x  1)  ln x
Df = (0 , ) and Rf = (, ln 2 )


2.3 Relationship between ln x and ex

Definition
The natural exponential function, denoted by ex, is defined by
y = ex if and only if ln y = x
for all x, where y > 0.
10 Logarithmic and exponential Function

The following theorem specifies the relationship between ef(x) and ln f(x).

Theorem
The natural logarithmic and natural exponential functions are inverse functions
of one another.

The theorem implies the following:

i) ln ex = x for  < x < 

ii) eln x = x for x > 0

As ef(x) and ln f(x) are inverses of one another, then their graphs are reflections
about the line y = x (see Figure 3)

y
y = ex
y=x

y = ln x
1

1 x

Figure 3

Example 3 Find and graph f –1(x). Hence determine the domain and range for
f1(x).

a. f(x) = ln (x + 2) b. f(x) = 3 + 2 ln x
2
c. f(x) = 2 + 3e4x d. f(x) =
1  4e 3 x

Solution

a. f(x) = ln (x + 2)
f (x)
1
Let y = ln (x + 2) y
ey = eln (x + 2)
ey = x + 2
ey – 2 = x
 f –1(x) = ex – 2 0.69 x
1
2
Df : (,) and Rf : (2, )
Logarithmic and exponential function 11

y
b. f(x) = 3 + 2 ln x
Let y = 3 + 2 ln x
y – 3 = 2 ln x 0.22
½( y – 3 ) = ln x x
1
( y 3 )
e2 =x
1
( x 3 )
 f –1(x) = e 2

c. f(x) = 2 + 3e4x y

Let y = 2 + 3e4x
3e4x = y  2 f (x)
1

y2
e4x =
3
 y  2
4x = ln   2 5 x
 3 
1  y  2
x= ln  
4  3 
1  x  2
 f –1(x) = ln  
4  3 

2
d) f(x) =
1  4e 3 x
y
2
y=
1  4e 3 x
1 1  4e 3 x
=
y 2
x
2 2 2
= 1 + 4e3x 5
y
f (x)
1

2
 1 = 4e3x
y

12 
  1 = e3x
4  y 

 1 1
ln    = 3x
 2y 4 
12 Logarithmic and exponential Function

1 2y
ln   =x
3  4 y 
1 2x
Hence f1(x) = ln   where the domain and range are (0,2) and (, )
3  4x 
respectively 

Exercise 2A

1. Given f(x) = ln (2x +1)

a. find f –1 (x)
b. graph f –1(x)
c. from the graph, find
i. domain and range of f –1 (x)
ii. lim f –1 (x) and lim f –1 (x)
x  x  

2. Given f(x) = 2 + e2x

a. find f –1 (x)
b. graph f –1(x)
c. from the graph, find
i. domain and range of f –1 (x)
ii. lim f –1 (x) and lim f –1 (x)
x  x 2

3. Find f –1 (x) if it exist.

a. f(x) = ex  1 ; x  0 b. f(x) = 1 + ln 2x
1
c. f(x) = e x ; x  0 d. f(x) = 1 – 2e2x + 1

e. f(x) = ln (xe3) f. f(x) = e3 ln x

2. Graph f(x) = 2 – e x. Hence determine the domain of f(x).

3. Graph f(x) = ln x . Hence graph f –1 (x).

4. Graph f(x) = ln (x+1) + ln 2.

a. Find it’s domain and range.
b. Find f –1 (x).
1  4e x
5. Find the domain of f1(x) given f(x) = .
1  4e 3 x
Logarithmic and exponential function 13

2.4 Differentiation for ex

The differentiation for exp:

d x d f(x)
(e ) = ex (e ) = ef(x) f (x)
dx dx

dy
Example 4 Find .
dx
2
2 x 1
a. y = e2x + 1 b. y = e x
c. y = ex sin 2x d. ey = ex + x3 – 1
3 x 2 1
e. y = x e f. y = tan sin e2x

Solution

y = e x 2 x 1
2
a. y = e2x + 1 b.
dy dy
= e x 2 x 1 (2x – 2)
2
= e2x + 1(2)
dx dx
= (2x – 2) e x 2 x 1
2
= 2 e2x + 1

c. y = ex sin 2x u = ex v = sin 2x d. ey = ex + x3 – 1 (Implicit diff.)

u= ex v= 2 cos 2x
dy dy
= uv + uv ey = ex + 3x2
dx dx
dy
= ex sin 2x + ex (2 cos 2x) = ey (ex + 3x2)
dx
= ex ( sin 2x + 2 cos 2x)

3 x 2 1
e. y = xe f. y = tan sin e2x

dy dy
= uv + uv = sec2 sin e2x  cos e2x  e2x 2
dx dx
 1 
+ x . e  6x 
3 x 2 1 3 x 2 1
= 1 e  = 2e2x sec2 sin e2x cos e2x
 2 3x 2  1 
 
3 x 2 1
3 x 2 1 3x 2 e
= e +
3x 2  1

Note that when we differentiate 6(f), we do not use (uv). Why?

14 Logarithmic and exponential Function

Exercise 2B

dy
Find .
dx
a. y = x3 + 3e4x + sin ex b. y = e2x tan x2
e 2x e x  e x
c. y= d. y= x
1  e3x e  e x
e. x ey = ex cos x f. exy = ex + y

2.5 Integration for ex

1 ax b
e e
ax b
i. x
dx  e x + C ii. dx  e +C
a

Example 5  Evaluate the following.

1
e e
3x+1 2x
a. dx b. + dx
e3x
1
e 3 x 1
c. 
0
e x 2
dx d.  (e2x+1) (e-2x – ex) dx

e.

0
sin x ecos x dx f.  (x – 1) e
x 2 2 x 1
dx

ex
 e
2x
f. dx g. sin (1+e2x) dx
1 ex

Solution
1
e e
3x+1 2x
a. dx b. + dx
e3x
1 3x+1
e + e3x
2x
= e +C = dx
3
1 2 x 1 3 x
= e  e +c
2 3

1
e 3 x 1
c. 
0
e x 2
dx d.
 (e2x+1) (e-2x – ex) dx

= e
0
3x – 1 – x – 2
dx =
 1+e 2x
– e3x – ex dx
Logarithmic and exponential function 15

1
1 2x 1 3x
e
2x – 3
= dx = x– e – e – ex
2 3
0

1 2x – 3 1
= e 0
2
1
= [ e – 1 – e – 3]
2
= 0.1591


u = x2 – 2x + 1

u = cos x 2
2 x 1
e. sin x ecos x dx du =  sin x dx f. (x – 1) e x dx du = (2x – 2 ) dx
 du = sin x dx = 2 (x – 1 ) dx
0 ½ du = ( x – 1 ) dx
1
=  eu du  =
2 eu du
1 u
=  eu = e +c
2
 1 x 2 2 x 1
=  e cos x = e +c
0 2
=  (ecos   ecos 0 )
1
=e  
e

Exercise 2C

Evaluate.
1

 e-2x + 1 dx e 1 e x dx
x
a. b.
0
2
2
ex
x e
x
c. 2
dx d. cos e x dx
1

ex
  e sin (1+e ) dx
2x 2x
e. dx f.
1 ex

 dx  ln (e ) dx
2x
g. h.
2


x
e
e sec2 (1 - ex) dx
-x
i. dx j.
x
1

2.6 Differentiation For Logarithmic Functions

The derivative for ln

d 1 d 1
(ln x) = [ln f(x)] = f (x )
dx x dx f (x )
16 Logarithmic and exponential Function

Example 6 Differentiate wrt x.

a. y = ln (x2 +6) b. y = ln sin 3x4

c. y = x3 ln 2x d. y = ln (x+1)(x3 + 2)
(3 x 2  4 ) 3
e. ln y = ln x 2 f. y = ln
(2x 3  1) 4

Solution

a. y = ln (x2 +6) b. y = ln sin 3x4

dy 1 dy 1
= 2 (2x ) = (cos 3x4) (12x3)
dx x 6 dx sin 3 x 4
2x
= 2 = 12x3 cot 3x4
x 6

u = x3 v = ln 2x
3
c. y = x ln 2x u = 3x 2
v =
1
(2) d. y = ln (x + 1)(x3 + 2)
2x = ln (x + 1) + ln (x3 + 2)
dy  1 dy 1 3x 2
= 3x2(ln 2x) + x3   =  3
dx x dx x  1 x  2
2 2
= 3x ln 2x + x

(3 x 2  4 ) 3
e. ln y = ln x 2 f. y = ln
(2x 3  1) 4
1
= (ln 2 2
x ) = ln (3x2 + 4)3  ln (2x3  1)4
1
= (2 ln x) 2 = 3 ln (3x2 + 4)  4 ln (2x3  1)
1
1 dy 1   1 dy 3 4
= ( 2 ln x ) 2 2   =  6x  3  6x 2
y dx 2  x dx 3x 2  4 2x  1
y 18x 24x 2
= =  
x 2 ln x 3 x 2  4 2x 3  1

Exercise 2D

dy
Find .
dx

tan 3 x
a. y= x ln x b. y = ln (x2 sin x) e
x 1 ln (2x  1)
c. ln y = ln d. y=
y 1 ln (2x  1)
y + ln y
e. y = ln ( x + ln x) f. e = ln (sec x + tan x)
Logarithmic and exponential function 17

1 4 y x
g. y=  ln  h. ln = sin ln3 3x
ln (2x  1) x 4

2.7 Integration Of Logarithmic Functions

The integration formula for logarithmic functions is as follows:

1
i.  x
dx = ln x + C
1 1
ii.  ax  b
dx = ln ax  b + C
a

Example 7 Evaluate

2
2x 4  3 x 2  1 1
a.  x3
dx b.  2x  3 dx
1
2
1 x
c. 3x
1
dx d. x 2
1
dx

ln x 1
e.  x
dx f.  x ln x dx


3


2 sec 2 x
g. 

tan x dx h.
x (1  tan x )
dx

Solution
2
2x 4  3 x 2  1 1
a.  x3
dx b.  1
2x  3
dx

2
3 1
=  2x +
x
 x3 dx =
2
ln 2x  3
1
2 2
2x x 1
= + 3 ln x  +C = (ln 7  ln 5 )
2 2 2
1 1 7
= x2 + 3 ln x + +C = ln
2x 2 2 5

2
1 x
c. 3x
1
dx d. x 2
1
dx Sub. mtd
Let u = x2 + 1
du = 2x dx
½ du = x dx
18 Logarithmic and exponential Function

1 1

2
=  ln (3  x) 1
= du
2 u
1
=  [ ln 1 – ln 2 ] = ln u + c
2
1
= ln 2 – ln 1 = ln (x2 + 1) + c
2
= ln 2

ln x 1
e.  x
dx Substitute mthd
Let u = ln x
f.  x ln x dx Substitute mthd

Let u = ln x
1 1 1
 
du = dx 1
= u2 du x = du du = dx
x
u
3
2 2
= u +c = ln u + c
3
3
2
= ( ln x ) 2 + c = ln ln x + c
3


3


2 sec 2 x
g. 

tan x dx h.
x (1  tan x )
dx

6
 Let u = 1 + tan x


1 1
3
sin x = 2 .2 du sec2 x dx
 cos x
du =
= dx u 2 x
 1
2du= sec2 x dx
6 Let u = cos x = 4 ln u x
du = -sin x dx
 du = sin x dx
1 = 4 ln (1 + tan x)+c
=   u
du

=  ln u

=  ln cos x 3

6
= 0.5493 

Exercise 2E

Evaluate.
ln 2 x ln x 2
a.
x dx b.  x
dx
1
dx 2
c.  3x  1
0
d.  x 1 x  dx
Logarithmic and exponential function 19


8 3

  1  3e
sec 2 2x ex
e. dx f. dx
1  2 tan 2x x
0 0
x
e e
e  x ln  x  dx
x
4
g. dx h.
x
 e x 3

4

2.8 Differentiation And Integration Of ax

The function f(x) = ax is called the exponential function with base a. The
differentiation and integration formula are as follows.

d x ax
dx
(a ) = ax ln a  a x dx 
ln a
+C


d bx a bx
(a ) = abx (b ln a) a bx dx  +C
dx b ln a

Example 8 Differentiate wrt x.

a. y = 3x b. y = 2x
c. y = x d. y = (1.2)x

Solution

a. y = 3x b. y = 2x
dy dy
= 3x ln 3 = 2x ln 2
dx dx

c. y = x d. y = (1.2)x
dy dy
= x ln  = (1.2)x ln 1.2
dx dx

Example 9 Evaluate.

 
3x
a. 2.3 x dx b. dx
2
1

 2 x 1 dx 4
x
c. d. dx
0

Solution
20 Logarithmic and exponential Function

 
3x
a. 2.3 x dx b. dx
2
x
2.3 3x
= c = c
ln 2.3 2 ln 3

2 4
x 1 x
c. dx d. dx
0
1
4x

x
= 2 2 dx =
ln 4 0
2x 1
=2 +c = (4 – 1)
ln 2 ln 4
2 x1 3
= +c = 
ln 2 ln 4

2.9 Logarithmic Differentiation

The calculation of derivatives of complicated functions involving products, quotients

or powers can often be simplified by taking logarithms. The method used is called
logarithmic differentiation.

Logarithmic differentiation are used to differentiate

i. functions in the form of f(x)g(x) e.g. y = (sin x)3x

ii. complicated functions e.g. y = (x+1)3(2x-1)2 sin 3x

Note: complicated functions refer to functions that involve multiplications or divisions

only.

Example 10  Differentiate with respect to x using logarithmic differentiation.

a. y = (sin x)x b. y = (tan x)sinx

c. y = (2x + 1)3x – 1 d. y = (ln 2x)cos 3x

Solution

a. y = (sin x)x
Let ln y = ln (sin x)x
ln y = x ln sin x RHS: (uv)
1 dy  1 
= (1) ln sin x + x  cos x  LHS: Differentiate implicitly
y dx  sin x 
dy
= y (ln sin x + x cot x)
dx
= (sin x)x(ln sin x + x cot x)

b. y = (tan x)sinx
Logarithmic and exponential function 21

Let ln y = ln (tan x)sinx

= sin x ln tan x
1 dy  1 
= cos x ln tan x + sin x   sec 2 x 
y dx  tan x 

dy
= y ( cos x ln tan x + sec x)
dx
= (tan x)sinx ( cos x ln tan x + sec x)

c. y = (2x + 1)3x – 1
Let ln y = ln (2x + 1)3x – 1
= (3x – 1) ln (2x + 1)
1 dy  1 
= 3 ln (2x + 1) + (3x – 1)   2
y dx  2x  1 
dy  2(3x  1) 
=y  3 ln (2x  1)  
dx  2x  1 
(2x  1)3 x 1
= [(6x  3) ln( 2x  1)  6x  2]
2x  1

d. y = (ln 2x)cos 3x
Let ln y = ln (ln 2x)cos 3x
= cos 3x ln ln 2x
1 dy  1 1 
=  3 sin 3x ln ln 2x + cos 3x    2 
y dx  ln 2 x 2 x 
dy  cos 3x 
= y   3 sin 3x ln ln 2x 
dx  x ln 2x 
 cos 3x 
= (ln 2x)cos 3x   3 sin 3x ln ln 2x  
 x ln 2x 

dy
Example 11  Find .
dx

a. y = (2x+1)4 (3x-2)3 (2x – 1)3 b. y = (3x+1)4 (2x-2)3 sin 3x

3x  1 2 ( x 2  1) 2 sin 3x
c. y= (x + 1) d. y=
2x  1 2x  1 e x

Solution

a. y = (2x+1)4 (3x – 2)3 (2x – 1)3

ln y = ln (2x+1)4 (3x – 2)3 (2x – 1)3
= ln (2x+1)4 + ln (3x – 2)3 + ln (2x – 1)3
ln y = 4 ln (2x+1) + 3 ln (3x – 2) + 3 ln (2x – 1)
22 Logarithmic and exponential Function

1 dy  2   3   2 
= 4   3   3 
y dx  2x  1  3x  2   2x  1
dy  8 9 6 
=y    
dx  2x  1 3 x  2 2 x  1

b. y = (3x+1)4 (2x – 2)3 sin 3x

ln y = ln [(3x+1)4 (2x – 2)3 sin 3x ]
= ln (3x+1)4 + ln (2x – 2)3 + ln sin 3x
= 4ln (3x+1) + 3 ln (2x – 2) + ln sin 3x
1 dy  3   2  1
= 4   3   cos 3x  3
y dx  3x  1   2x  2  sin 3x
dy  12 6 
=y    3 cot 3x 
dx  3 x  1 2 x  2 

3x  1 2
c. y= (x + 1)
2x  1
1
(3 x  1) ( x 2
2  1)
= 1
(2x  1) 2
1
(3 x  1) ( x 2
2  1)
ln y = ln 1
(2x  1) 2
1 1
ln y = ln (3x – 1) + ln (x2 + 1) – ln (2x + 1)
2 2
1 dy 1  3  2x 1 2 
=   2   
y dx 2  3x  1 x  1 2  2x  1

dy  3 2x 1 
= y   2  
dx  2(3x  1) x  1 2x  1

( x 2  1) 2 sin 3x
d. y=
2x  1 e x

( x 2  1) 2 sin 3x
ln y = ln
2x  1 e x
1
= 2 ln (x2 + 1) + ln sin 3x  ln (2x + 1)  ln ex
2
1
= 2 ln (x2 + 1) + ln sin 3x  ln (2x + 1)  x
2
Logarithmic and exponential function 23

1 dy  2x   1  1  2 
= 2 2 +   cos 3x  3    1
y dx  x  1  sin 3x  2  2x  1 
dy  4x 1 
=y  2  3 cot 3x   1 
dx  x 1 2x  1 

Exercise 2F

Differentiate wrt x.

cos x 2x  1 x 4 3x  1
a. y = b. y =
3x 4 e 5 x 3
2x
x tan x
c. y = d. y = (sec x)cos x
sec (3 x  1)
1
e. y = 3x sin x f. y = (1  x ) x
4 4 ln 3x sin 3x
g. ln y = e3x sin x2 (3x-1)3 h. sin =
y e x cos 3x