Exponential Functions

Objectives
To use the properties of exponents to:
 Simplify exponential expressions.
 Solve exponential equations.
To sketch graphs of exponential functions.
 Exponential Functions
A polynomial function has the basic form: f (x) = x3

An exponential function has the basic form: f (x) = 3x

An exponential function has the variable in the exponent,

not in the base.

General Form of an Exponential Function:

f (x) = Nx, N > 0
 Properties of Exponents
X
A A  A
X Y X Y A X Y
Y
 A
A
A 
X Y
 A XY X
A  X
1
A
 AB 
X
 A B
X X
1
X
 A X

X
A
X
 A A
   X
 A
X
 A 
X Y X Y
B B A Y
 Properties of Exponents
Simplify: 2  2  2  32
2 3 5

6 1 1 4
2 2  2  4 
2

2 16

2 
3 2
 26  64
 Properties of Exponents
3 3 3
2 2 3 27
Simplify:    3  3 
3 3 2 8

7
3 1 1
9
3  2 
2

3 3 9

 2 8   2  8
1
 16 2  16  4
1 1 2 1
2 2
 Exponential Equations
( x 1) 1
Solve: 5  125
x
Solve: 7 7 2
5 x  53 x  1   12
x3 x  12
 Exponential Equations
Solve: 8  2 Solve: 8  4
x x

2 
3 x
2
1
2 
3 x
2 2

2 2
3x 1
2 2
3x 2

3x  1 3x  2

x  13 x 2
3
 Exponential Equations
Solve:  
1 x
3  27 Solve: x
1
3
 27

3   
3
1 x 1
 27 x 3
 273
x
3 3 3 x  19,683

x  3 Not considered an
exponential equation,
because the variable
is now in the base.
x  3
 Exponential Equations
x 4 8
3
Solve:

 
Not considered an 4
3
8 3
3 4
exponential equation,
because the variable
x 4

is in the base.

 8
4
x 3

x  2
4

x  16
 Exponential Functions
General Form of an Exponential Function:
f (x) = Nx, N > 0

g(x) = 2x g(3) = 8
g(2) = 4
x
g(1) = 2
g(0) = 1
g(–1) = 21  12
g(–2) = 22  2  4
1 1
2x 2
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
x g x

2 4

1 2
0 1
1
–1 2

1
–2 4
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
x hx

2 9

1 3
0 1
1
–1 3

1
–2 9
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) Exponential functions with
positive bases greater than
1 have graphs that are
increasing.

The function never crosses

the x-axis because there is
nothing we can plug in for x
that will yield a zero
answer.
h(x) = 3x (red)

The x-axis is a left

horizontal asymptote.
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) A smaller base means
the graph rises more
gradually.

A larger base means the

graph rises more quickly.

Exponential functions will

h(x) = 3x (red) not have negative bases.
 The Number e

A base often associated with exponential functions is:

e  2.71828169
 The Number e
lim 1  x   2.71828169
1
Compute: x

x 0

lim 1  x  lim 1  x 
1 1
x x

x 0 x 0

1  x  1  x 
1 1
x x
x x

–.1 2.868 .1 2.5937

–.01 2.732 .01 2.7048

–.001 2.7196 .001 2.7169

 The Number e
Euler’s number
Leonhard Euler
(pronounced “oiler”)
Swiss mathematician
and physicist
The Exponential Function
f (x) = ex
Exponential Functions
j x   2 
1 x

x j x
1
2 4

1
1 2

0 1
–1 2

–2 4
 Exponential Functions
j x   2 
1 x

Exponential functions with positive bases less

than 1 have graphs that are decreasing.
 Why study exponential functions?
Exponential functions are used in our real world
to measure growth, interest, and decay.

Growth obeys exponential functions.

Ex: rumors, human population, bacteria,
computer technology, nuclear chain reactions,
compound interest

Decay obeys exponential functions.

Ex: Carbon-14 dating, half-life, Newton’s Law of
Cooling