Exponential function

Jerry 2023.11.24

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Learning outcomes

• Sketch graphs of form y=ax, y=ex and transformation

of these graphs

• Differentiate ex and understand its importance

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前置知识要求：

1 明白指数定义及运算
2 明白函数图像的 transformation
3 知道 f’(x) 的定义和意义，以及基础运算规则
4 知道极限的定义

教学方法：板书为主

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Exponential function

Jerry 2023.11.24

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Exponential functions
• Definition a>0 & a≠1
Functions of the form f(x) = ax, where a is a constant, are called exponential functions.

• Graph
Sketch the graph of y=2x y
4.5
4
3.5
x y a=
3
-2 0.25 2.00
2.5
-1 0.5 2
0 1 1.5
1 2 1
2 4 0.5
0
-2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Exponential functions
• Definition a>0 & a≠1
Functions of the form f(x) = ax, where a is a constant, are called exponential functions.

• Graphs

• Properties
1: x-axis is an asymptote
2: all functions pass (0,1)
3 Graph of ax is the reflection in the
y-axis of graph of (1/a)x
4: a>1, f(x) is increasing function
x→-∞, f(x) → 0; x→+∞, f(x) → +∞
5: 0<a<1, f(x) is decreasing function
x→-∞, f(x) → +∞; x→+∞, f(x) → 0
 Exponential functions
• Explanations of properties

2: all functions pass (0,1) a  0, a 0  1

3 Graph of ax is the reflection in the y-axis of graph of (1/a)x
1 1 1
a 1   (a 1 ) x  ( ) x  a  x  ( ) x
a a a
f ( x) ~ f (  x) reflection in the y-axis
a x ~ ax
4: a>1, f(x) is increasing function
x→-∞, f(x) → 0; x→+∞, f(x) → +∞
a x 1  a x a
5: 0<a<1, f(x) is decreasing function if 0<a  1, a x 1  a x
x→-∞, f(x) → +∞; x→+∞, f(x) → 0
1: x-axis is an asymptote if a  1, a x 1  a x
Exponential functions
• Question 1
Question 1 Which is or are exponentials function(s) ?
y=5x y=xx y=x3 y=(-2)x

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Question 2 Sketch the graph y  ( ) x 3
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 Quick review of transformation
y  f ( x)  y  f ( x  k ) y  f ( x)  y  f ( x)  k y  f ( x)  y  af ( x) y  f ( x)  y  f (ax)

 k  0 if a  1, f ( x) is
Translation by vector   Translation by vector  
 0 k  stretched vertcally
左加右减 上加下减 if 0  a  1, f ( x) is
squashed vertcally
if a  0, af ( x) is
reflected in the x-axis
if a  1, f ( x) is
squashed horizontally
if 0  a  1, f ( x) is
stretched horizontally
if a  0, f ( x) is
reflected in the y-axis
Exponential functions
• Question
Question 1 Which is or are exponentials function(s) ?
y=5x y=xx y=x3 y=(-2)x

1  3
Question 2 Sketch the graph y  ( ) x 3 Translation by the vector  
2 0

(0,1) (3,1)
Exponential functions
• y=ex why is special ?

x f(x)=ax f’(x) f ( x) / f '( x)

a x f(x) f'(x) f(x)/ f'(x)

Fascinating !
2 -5 0.03125 0.021661 0.693147 The beauty of math !
-4 0.0625 0.043322 0.693147
-3 0.125 0.086643 0.693147
-2 0.25 0.173287 0.693147 For f(x)= ax , there is always a k,
-1 0.5 0.346574 0.693147
0 1 0.693147 0.693147
1 2 1.386294 0.693147
Let f(x)=k·f’(x)
2 4 2.772589 0.693147
3 8 5.545177 0.693147 And when a~2.71828...., k=1;
4 16 11.09035 0.693147
5 32 22.18071 0.693147 We note this special number
e~2.71828…
Exponential functions
• Derivation of exponentials

*you may also see y=exp(x), which is another notation of y=ex

Exponential functions
• Question
Small summary

a^x=ax
Thank you!

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