Chapter 7

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

By
Farhan Iqbal
Main topics
Characteristics of Exponential Functions
Applications of Exponential Functions
Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions
Properties of exponents and radicals
Properties:
Exponential Function
Exponential and logarithmic functions have many
important applications not only in mathematics
but also in business, economics and the sciences.
Definition: A function of the form f(x) = bx
where b > 0, b ≠ 1 and x is any real number is called
an exponential function to the base b.
Examples are: 32x = (32)x = 9x
Graphs of exponential functions
Graph f(x) = 2x (blue line) and f(x) = 5x (green line)
Graphs of exponential functions
Consider the function f(x) = 2x
x -1 0 1 2
F(x) 0.5 1 2 4
Graphs of exponential functions
Base e exponential functions
A special class of exponential functions is of the
form
f(x) = ex
Where e is a constant e = 2.7182818...
Base e exponential functions also called as natural
exponential functions and are particularly
appropriate in modelling continuous growth and
decay process, continuous compounding of
interest.
Graph of f(x) = ex

Graph:
Now try these!
Compute f(0), f(-3) and f(3) for:
x2
1. f(x) = 3
2. f(x) = 5e-x/2
3. f(x) = 3(4 – e2x)
4. f(x) = 10 – x - ex
Application of Exponential Function
Compound Interest
Continuous Compound Interest