Exponential and

Logarithmic Functions

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2-1 Exponential Functions

Example
Function type
linear f(x) = 3x + 2
quadratic f(x) = 3x2 + 2x - 3
polynomial f(x) = 2x4 + 3x2
exponential f(x) = 2x f(x) = 2.63x-1

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Graph Exponential Functions (b > 1)
• Graph y = 2x for x = -3 to 3
x y Graph of y = 2^x

-3 1/8 9
8
-2 1/4 7
6
-1 1/2 5

0 1 y
4
3

1 2 2
1
2 4 0
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
3 8 x
Graph: f(x) = 2x

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Graph: f(x) = 2-x
Graph Exponential Function (0< b < 1)
• Graph y = (1/2)x for x = -3 to 3
x y
Graph of y = (1/2)^x
-3 8
9

-2 4 8
7
-1 2 6
5
0 1
y
4
3
1 1/2 2
1
2 1/4 0
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
3 1/8 x
• 2 is the base of the exponential –“exponential
base 2”
• the base can be any positive number
• common bases are 2, 10, and e

Exponential functions with base e

f(x) = ex
• e is a real number constant (like ) value =
2.7182818…
• frequently seen as the base for exponential
functions
• called the natural base
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Properties of the exponential functions:
• f(x) = bx and f(x) = b-x, - < x < 
• b is called the base
• can always make b > 1
x
1
• e.g. f(x) =   = 2-x
 2
• domain: (-, ) range: (0, )
• continuous
• f(x) = bx is an increasing function
• f(x) = b-x is a decreasing function
• y-intercept: y = 1
• no x-intercepts; graph always above x axis
• x-axis is an asymptote:
as x  +  for f(x) = b-x
as x  -  for f(x) = bx
• bx = by  x = y (one-to-one property)
Growth Decay
Exponential function – A function of the form y=abx,
where b>0 and b1.

Step 1 – Make a table of values for the function.

x
y  3
x y  3 x y
1 1
2 3 2

3 2
9
0 3 0
1
2 9
2 3
3
3 27
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Now that you have a data table of ordered pairs for
the function, you can plot the points on a graph.
(-2, 1/9) (0,1) (2,9)
Draw in the curve that fits the plotted points.
y y

x x
 APPLICATION

Simple Interest formulas

I = Prt
A = P + Prt = P(1 + rt)
P = principal invested
(also called present value)
r = annual interest rate
(expressed as a decimal)
t = time in years
I = interest earned
A = total amount after t years
(also called future value)
Simple Interest

You invest $100.00 for at 10% simple

interest.
How much do you have at the end of 2 years?
We can do this in our heads:
10% of $100 is $10
that's $10 interest earned per year
for 2 years for a total of $20 interest
plus the $100 original investment . . .
for a new amount of : $120
P = ($100)

r = (10%)

t = (2 years)
I = ($20)
A = ($120.00)
If you know any 3 of the variables, the
formula (plus some algebra)
can be used to solve for the 4th variable:

Example:
$100 is invested (simple interest) for 10 years,
and the investment doubled in value.
What was the interest rate?
The equation:
200 = 100(1 + r(10))
Solve: r = 0.10= (10%)
You deposit $1500 in an account that pays 2.3% interest
compounded yearly,
1) What was the initial principal (P) invested?
2) What is the growth rate (r)? The growth factor?
3) Using the equation A = P(1+r)t, how much money would
you have after 2 years if you didn’t deposit any more
money?
1) The initial principal (P) is $1500.
2) The growth rate (r) is 0.023. The growth factor is 1.023.
3 ) A  P (1  r) t
A  1 5 0 0 ( 1  0 .0 2 3 ) 2
A  $ 1 5 6 9 .7 9
2-2 Logarithmic Functions
The common log of a number is that
exponent (or power) to which 10 must be
raised to obtain the number.
Notation: y = log (x) or y = log x
"y = log of x"
Example:
•log (1000) = . . .
•. . . the power to which 10 must be raised to
obtain 1000
•so log(1000) = 3
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Another way to put it: 3 = log(1000) because
103 = 1000

y = log(x) means 10y = x

Be CAREFUL! log x + 2  log(x + 2)

log x + 2 = log(x) + 2

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Graphing a log function
function y = log2 x:

x 1 4 8 1/2

y 0 2 3 -1

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Properties of logs
Property 1
Recall: if m = 102 then 2 = log m
100000 = 100 x 1000
mn = m x n
105 = 102 x 103
10log mn = 10log m x 10log n
10log mn = 10log m + log n (laws of
exponents)
log mn = log m + log n (if 10x = 10y
then x = y)
the log of a product = the sum of the logs
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Property 2
===============================
100 = 100000  1000
m/n = m  n
102 = 105  103
10log m/n = 10log m  10log n
10log m/n = 10log m - log n (laws of
exponents)
log m/n = log m - log n (if 10x = 10y
then x = y)
the log of a quotient = the difference of the
logs
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Property 3

log mr = log mm … m (for r factors)

= log m + log m + . . . + log m
(for r terms)
= r log m
log mr = r log m
the log of a power = the exponent times the
log of the base

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These relationships hold for any base:
1. loga mn = loga m + loga n (log of a product)
2. loga m/n = loga m - loga n (log of a quotient)
3. loga mr = r loga m (log of a power)
Each property can be used in two directions, e.g.
log (10)(20) = log 10 + log 20
uses property 1 going from left-hand to right-hand
side
called expansion ()
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log 10 - log 20 = log (10/20)
uses property 2 going from right-hand to left-
hand side
called collection, or writing as the log of a
single expression “log expression” ()
the book directions are “write as a one
logarithm” - this is ambiguous. Read “Write
as the log of a single expression”
3 log x not acceptable as an answer, but log x 3

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Examples: Write the equivalent exponential equation
and solve for y.

Logarithmic Equivalent Solution

Equation Exponential
Equation

y = log216 16 = 2y 16 = 24  y = 4
1 1 1 -1
y = log2( ) =2 y
= 2  y = –1
2 2 2
y = log416 16 = 4y 16 = 42  y = 2
y = log51 1=5y 1 = 50  y = 0

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Properties of Logarithms
1. loga 1 = 0 since a0 = 1.
2. loga a = 1 since a1 = a.
3. loga ax = x and alogax = x inverse property
4. If loga x = loga y, then x = y. one-to-one property

Examples: Solve for x: log6 6 = x

log6 6 = 1 property 2 x = 1

Simplify: log3 35
log3 35 = 5 property 3

Simplify: 7log79
7log79 = 9 property 3

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Properties of Natural Logarithms
1. ln 1 = 0 since e0 = 1.
2. ln e = 1 since e1 = e.
3. ln ex = x and eln x = x inverse property
4. If ln x = ln y, then x = y. one-to-one property
Examples: Simplify each expression.
1
 
ln 2   ln e 2  2 inverse property
e 

e ln 20  20 inverse property

3 ln e  3(1)  3 property 2

ln 1  0  0 property 1
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