6.

6 Further Applications and

Modeling with Exponential
and Logarithmic Functions

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Further Applications and Modeling with
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Physical Science Applications: A(t )  A0e kt

A0 is some initial quantity.
t represents time.
k > 0 represents the growth constant, and
k < 0 represents the decay constant.

A LWAY S L E A R N I N G Copyright © 2019, 2015, 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 2

Example: Finding the Age of a Fossil (1 of 2)
Carbon-14 is a radioactive form of carbon found
in all living plants and animals. After a plant or
animal dies, the radiocarbon disintegrates.
Scientists determine the age of the remains by
comparing the amount of carbon-14 present with
the amount found in living plants and animals. The
amount of carbon-14 present after t years is given
by
A(t )  A0e kt , with k  (ln 2) 5700
1
.
If the fossil contains one-fifth of the carbon-14
contained in a contemporary living sample,
estimate the age to the nearest thousand years.

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Example: Finding the Age of a Fossil (2 of 2)
1
A0  A0 e  ln 2/5700t
5 1
1 ln  ln e  ln 2/5700t
 e  ln 2/5700t 5
5 1 ln 2
ln   t
5 5700
5700 1
 ln  t
ln 2 5
t  13, 235

The age of the fossil is about 13,000 years.

A LWAY S L E A R N I N G Copyright © 2019, 2015, 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 4

 Finding an Exponential Decay
Example: Function Given Half-life (1 of 2)

In some instances, links posted on Twitter

experience half of their hits H within the first 2.8
hours. This pattern continues over time so that the
number of hits on a link decreases by half over
each 2.8-hour period. Hits on a Twitter link decay
according to the function H(t) = H0e–kt, where t is
time in hours. Find the exact value of k and then
approximate k.

Solution The half-life tells us that when t = 2.8,

A(t) = (½)H0.
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 Finding an Exponential Decay
Example: Function Given Half-life (2 of 2)
H(t) = H0e–kt 1  k (2.8)
H 0  H 0e
2
1
 e 2.8 k
2
1
ln  ln e 2.8 k
2
1
ln  2.8k
2
1
ln
k  2  0.24755
2.8
Twitter links decay according to the equation H(t) = H0e–0.24755t.
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Example: Measuring Sound Intensity (1 of 3)

The loudness of sounds is measured in a unit called

a decibel. To measure with this unit, we first assign
an intensity of I0 to a very faint sound, called the
threshold sound. If a particular sound has intensity I,
then the decibel rating of this louder sound is
I
d  10log .
I0
Fan noise at a recent Superbowl in the Superdome
reached levels of 1012I0. (Source: Hollywood Reporter.)
Find the decibel rating of this event, and compare it with
the average rating of 80 decibels for a ringing telephone.
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Example: Measuring Sound Intensity (2 of 3)
I
d  10
I0
1012 I 0
d  10log
I0
d  10log1012  120

Sound levels reached 120 decibels. Because 120

decibels is equivalent to 1012I0 and 80 decibels is
equivalent to 108.0I0, their ratio is
12
10 I 0
8.0
 10 4
 10,000.
10 I 0
A LWAY S L E A R N I N G Copyright © 2019, 2015, 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 8
Example: Measuring Sound Intensity (3 of 3)

The noise of the Superdome was 10,000 times

the intensity of a ringing telephone.

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Example: Solving Compound Interest for t
(1 of 2)
a) How long will it take $1000 invested at 2% interest
compounded quarterly to grow to $2700?

Solution Find t when A = 2700, P = 1000, r = 0.02,

and n = 4. 4t
 0.02 
2700  1000  1  
 4 
2.7  1.005 4t

log 2.7  log1.0054t

log 2.7  4t log1.005
log 2.7
 t  t  49.787
4log1.005
It will take about 50 years for the initial amount to grow
to $2700.
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 Example: Solving Compound Interest for t
(2 of 2)
b) How long will it take for the money in an account that
is compounded continuously at 1.25% interest to
double?
Solution A  Pe rt
2 P  Pe0.0125t
2  e0.0125t
ln 2  ln e0.0125t
ln 2  0.0125t
ln 2 The amount will
t double in 55½
0.0125 years.
t  55.45
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Amortization Payments

A loan of P dollars at interest rate i per period

(as a decimal) may be amortized in n equal
periodic payments of R dollars made at the end
of each period, where
P
R n
.
1  (1  i ) 
 i 
 
The total interest I that will be paid during the
term of the loan is I  nR  P.

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 Using Amortization to Finance an
Example: Automobile

You purchase a camper trailer for $24,000. After

a down payment of $4000, the balance will be paid off in
36 equal monthly payments at 4.5% interest per year.
Find the amount of each payment. How much interest
will you pay over the life of the loan?

P  24000  4000  20000, i  0.045 / 12  0.00375, n  36

20000
R  594.94
1  (1  0.00375) 
36

 0.00375 
 
The monthly payment will be $594.94. The total interest paid
will be 36($594.94)  $20,000  $1417.84.
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Example: Modeling World Population
World population in billions during year x can be
modeled by P(x) = 7(1.01)x – 2011. Solve the equation
P  x   7  1.01
x  2011
8 analytically to estimate the
year when world population may reach 8 billion.
7  1.01
x  2011
8
 1.01
x  2011
8/7
log  1.01
x  2011
 log8 7
 x  2011 log1.01  log8 7
log8 7
x  2011 
log1.01
log8 / 7
x  2011   2024
log1.01
A LWAY S L E A R N I N G Copyright © 2019, 2015, 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 14
 Determining the Price of Solar
Example: Energy (1 of 3)

Solar energy currently accounts for only a small

percentage of the planet’s electricity, but the industry is
rapidly growing as this form of energy becomes less
expensive. Photovoltaic cells are needed to generate
solar power, and each year since 1980 their cost has
been about 90% as much as the year prior. In 1980 the
price of these cells was $30 per watt produced. We can
model their price in dollars with the function
ƒ(x) = 30(0.90)x, where x represents years after 1980.
Predict the year when the price of photovoltaic cells
were $0.75 per watt and compare to the actual year of
2013. (Source: The Economist.).

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 Determining the Price of Solar
Example: Energy (2 of 3)

Analytic Solution

30  0.90   0.75
x

Because x = 35
 0.90   0.025
x
corresponds to 35 years
log  0.90   log 0.025
x
after 1980, our model
predicts photovoltaic cells
x log 0.90  log 0.025 were about $0.75 in 2015,
log 0.025 which is two years later
x  35.01
log 0.90 than the actual year of
2013.

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 Determining the Price of Solar
Example: Energy (3 of 3)

Graphing Calculator Solution

The intersection-of-graphs method is used to
confirm the result that Y = 0.75 when X ≈ 35.01.

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