MATM1534

1.4 Exponential Functions

Exponential functions

A function in the form

with a positive constant, is called an exponential function.

The constant is called the base. The variable is the exponent.

The domain of any exponential function is .

 Graphs

We already know
Now we have 3 important cases:

1 e.g.

e.g.

which gives
Example 1, bl.47

Sketch the graph of and also determine the domain and range.
Applications of exponential functions

is an exponential function of with base if

 = initial quantity
 = factor by which changes if t increases by 1
 from we get the growth rate
 > 1: exponential growth We n
e
you t ver use <
 0 < < 1: exponential decay hink
that 0. Why d
is? o
 Population growth example
Linear function? (Straight line?) – No!

Year Pop. ∆Pop.

(mil) (mil)
1980 67.38
1981 69.13 1.75
1982 70.93 1.8
1983 72.77 1.84
1984 74.66 1.89
1985 76.60 1.94
1986 78.59 1.99
 Population grew by 2.6% per year.
 Growth rate = 2.6% or 0.026
 Constant growth factor means exponential growth
 Constant change/difference means linear growth
(straight line)

P = 67.38(1.026)t
Elimination of medicine from the body

 Quantitydecreases
exponentially.
 Ampicillin: 40% eliminated
each hour
 Dose: 250mg
Q = 250(0.6)t
 Exponential

decay function
Exponential growth: and the growth rate
Let the growth be described by the equation
Now how do we get the growth rate?
Easy!
1. Subtract 1 from the value of
2. This gives you the growth rate as a decimal number.
3. Normally we then write it as a percentage.

Example:
Let
Subtract 1: growth rate = 0.34 = 34%
Example to determine the equation
when given two data points.
 Q = f(t) is an exponential function and f(20) = 88.2 and f(23) = 91.4
 Do you think this is exponential growth or decay?
 Determine the base, the growth rate and f(25)
Half-life and Doubling time
 Radio active elements disintegrate exponentially
 Half-life
 Carbon-14 dating (How does it work?)
 Half-life of carbon-14 = 5730 year
 Doubling time
Example

The half-life of strontium-90 is 25 years.

(a) If you initially had 24mg, find an equation for the quantity that remains after
years.
(b) Determine the mass that is left after 40 years.
A Special base: e
 e = 2.71828…… (an irrational number like ) is called Euler’s
number. Euler
 Why use e as base?
was a Swiss
mathematician
born in 1707.

Unfortunately he
has died in the
meantime…
Stewart Example 5 on page 51

Sketch the graph of and determine the domain and range.