Differentiation of exponential functions

Homework: Unit 3 Chapter 6 The exponential function (Exercise 6B)

The Euler’s number 𝑒 is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 2.71828.

𝑑
It can be shown that 𝑑𝑥 (𝑒 𝑥 ) = 𝑒 𝑥 .
𝑑
By applying the chain rule, we obtain 𝑑𝑥 (𝑒 𝑓(𝑥) ) = 𝑓′(𝑥) × 𝑒 𝑓(𝑥) .

For example,
𝑑 5𝑥−2
(𝑒 ) = 5𝑒 5𝑥−2 .
𝑑𝑥

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Exponential growth and decay

A general equation to represent growth and decay is given by

𝑃 = 𝑃0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
where 𝑃 is the present population at time 𝑡, 𝑃0 is the initial population and 𝑘 is a constant. If the
equation represents growth, then 𝑘 is a positive value. If the equation represents decay, then 𝑘 is a
𝑑𝑃
negative value. The rate of growth and decay can be determined by its first derivative 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑘𝑃 where
a positive rate indicates growth and a negative rate indicates decay.

The number of bacterial cells on a culture plate can be defined by the rule

𝑁(𝑡) = 2000𝑒 0.3𝑡

where 𝑡 is the time in seconds the culture has been multiplying.

a. Determine how many bacterial cells are initially present.

b. Determine how many bacterial cells, to the nearest whole number, are present after 10 seconds.

c. Determine the rate at which the population of bacteria is multiplying after 10 seconds. Give your
answer correct to the nearest whole number.

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The mass, 𝑀 grams, of a radioactive substance after 30 years is 19.4 grams. If the mass in any year is
given by

𝑀 = 𝑀0 𝑒 −0.00152𝑡
where 𝑡 is the time in years and 𝑀0 is a constant, determine:

a. the value of 𝑀0 to the nearest whole number

b. the annual rate of change

c. the rate of decay after 30 years.

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The bilby is an endangered species that can be found in the Kimberley in Western Australia as well as
some parts of South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The gestation time for a bilby
is 2 to 3 weeks and when they are born, they are only about 11 mm in length. The growth of a typical
bilby can be modelled by the rule

𝐿 = 𝐿0 𝑒 0.599𝑡
where 𝐿0 is its length in millimetres at birth and 𝐿 is the length of the bilby in millimetres 𝑡 months
after its birth.

a. Determine the value of 𝐿0 .

b. Determine the rate of change of length of the bilby at time 𝑡 months.

c. Determine the rate at which the bilby is growing when it is 3 months old. Give your answer correct
to 3 decimal places.

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A body that is at a higher temperature than its surroundings cools according to Newton’s Law of
Cooling, which states that

𝑇 = 𝑇0 𝑒 −𝑧𝑡
where 𝑇0 is the original excess of temperature, 𝑇 is the excess of temperature in degrees Celsius after
𝑡 minutes, and 𝑧 is a constant.

a. The original temperature of the body was 95 °C and the temperature of the surroundings was 20 °C.
Determine the value of 𝑇0 .

b. Determine the rate at which the temperature is decreasing after a quarter of an hour if it is known
that 𝑧 = 0.034. Give your answer correct to 3 decimal places.