Objectives

To use the properties of

exponents to:
 Simplify exponential
expressions.
 Solve exponential equations.
 Exponential Functions
A polynomial function has the basic form: f (x) = x3

An exponential function has the basic form: f (x) = 3x

An exponential function has the variable in the exponent,

not in the base.

General Form of an Exponential Function:

f (x) = Nx, N > 0
 Properties of Exponents
X
A A  A
X Y X Y A X Y
Y
 A
A
A 
X Y
 A XY X
A  X
1
A
 AB   A B
X X X
1
X
 A X

X
A
 A
X
A
   X
 A
X
AY A 
X
B
Y X Y
B
An exponential equation is an
equation containing one or more
expressions that have a variable as an
exponent. To solve exponential
equations:

• Try writing them

so that the
bases are all the
same.
 Exponential Equations
( x 1) 1
Solve: 5  125
x
Solve: 7 7 2
5x  53 x  1   12
x3 x  12
To Solve Exponential Equations:
1. Rewrite the Equation so that the BASES
are the same number.
a. If the base is a number, just break it down
with a factor tree.
b. If the base is a fraction, FIRST write as a
whole number by using negative exponents.
2. Once the bases are equal, you can set
the exponents equal to each other and
solve.
3. Check your solution! 7
 Exponential Equations
Solve: 8  2
x
Solve: 8  4
x

2 
3 x
2
1
2 
3 x
2 2

2 2
3x 1
2 2
3x 2

3x  1 3x  2

x  13 x  23
 Exponential Equations
Solve:  
1 x
3  27 Solve: x 3  27
1

3   
3
1 x
 27  273
1
x 3

x
3 3 3 x  19,683

x  3 Not considered an
exponential equation,
because the variable

x  3
is now in the base.
 Example : Solving Exponential
Equations

Solve and check.

8–x x–3
Rewrite each side with the
9 = 27 same base; 9 and 27 are
(32)8 – x = (33)x – 3 powers of 3.

16 – 2x 3x – 9
To raise a power to a power,
3 =3 multiply exponents.

16 – 2x = 3x – 9 Bases are the same, so the

exponents must be equal.
x=5 Solve for x.
Check
8–x x–3
9 = 27
8–5 5–3
9 27
3 2
9 27
729 729 
The solution is x = 5.
Exponential inequalities are
inequalities in which one (or both) sides
involve a variable exponent.
The laws and theorems of exponents are followed
by the exponential inequalities. The most important
theorem that is used for solving inequalities states
that :

When bases are same, the exponents also have the

same inequality relation as
the exponential inequality has. i.e.
4.6 Solve Exponential Equations and Inequalities

Example Solve an exponential inequality

z 3
Solve 3  9 .
4z
z 3
3 9
4z
Write original equation.

__3   ___
4z
3 2 z 3 Rewrite each power with a base __.
3
2 z 6
3  _____
4z
_____ 3 Power of a power property.

z6
4 z  2_____
____

z  ___
3 Solve for z.
 Solve Exponential Equations and
Inequalities
Checkpoint. Complete the following exercises.
x 1 2 x 1
3. Solve 2 4 .
2
x 1
 
 2 2 2 x 1

x 1 4 x 2
2 2
x 1  4x  2
3  3x
x 1
 REMINDER!!!
Long Exam on Sept 20,2018 – Thursday
40 items
COVERAGE:
 One to one function
 Inverse Function
 Domain & Range
 Exponential equation and inequality
 Exponential Functions
General Form of an Exponential Function:
f (x) = Nx, N > 0

g(x) = 2x g(3) = 8
g(2) = 4
x
g(1) = 2
g(0) = 1
g(–1) = 21  12
g(–2) = 22  2  14
1
2x 2
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
x g  x

2 4

1 2
0 1
1
–1 2

1
–2 4
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
x h x

2 9

1 3
0 1
1
–1 3

1
–2 9
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) Exponential functions with
positive bases greater than
1 have graphs that are
increasing.

The function never crosses

the x-axis because there is
nothing we can plug in for x
that will yield a zero
answer.
h(x) = 3x (red)

The x-axis is a left

horizontal asymptote.
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) A smaller base means the
graph rises more
gradually.

A larger base means the

graph rises more quickly.

Exponential functions will

h(x) = 3x (red) not have negative bases.
Let’s examine exponential functions. They are
different than any of the other types of functions we’ve
studied because the independent variable is in the
exponent.

Let’s look at the graph of

this function by plotting

f x   2
x 2x
x some points.8
3 8 7
6
2 4 5
BASE 4
1 2 3
2
0 1 1
Recall what a
-1 1/2 negative exponent -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-2 1/4 means:
-2
-3
-3 1/8 -4
f  1  2 1 
1 -5
-6
2 -7
 Compare the graphs 2x, 3x , and 4x
f x   4 x
Characteristics about the Graph of an
Exponential Function where a >
1
f x   a
x

1. Domain is all real numbers f x   3x

f x   2 x
2. Range is positive real numbers

3. There are no x intercepts because there is no

x value that you can put in the function to make it
=0 Can
What
What
What
Are you
is
isthe
these
is the
see
the range
x
ydomain
the
intercept
of of
exponential an
intercept
exponential
of
horizontal
anthese
of exponential
functions
these exponential
asymptote
function?or
exponential
increasing
functions?
for
function?
these functions?
functions?
decreasing?
4. The y intercept is always (0,1) because a 0 = 1

5. The graph is always increasing

6. The x-axis (where y = 0) is a horizontal
asymptote for x  - 
 The Number e

A base often associated with exponential functions is:

e  2.71828169
 The Number e
Euler’s number
Leonhard Euler
Swiss mathematician
and physicist
The Exponential Function
f (x) = ex
Exponential Functions
j  x   2 
1 x

x j  x

2
1
4

1
1 2

0 1
–1 2

–2 4
 Exponential Functions
j  x   2 
1 x

Exponential functions with positive bases less

than 1 have graphs that are decreasing.
 Why study exponential functions?
Exponential functions are used in our real world
to measure growth, interest, and decay.

Growth obeys exponential functions.

Ex: rumors, human population, bacteria,
computer technology, nuclear chain reactions,
compound interest

Decay obeys exponential functions.

Ex: Carbon-14 dating, half-life, Newton’s Law of
Cooling