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University of the People

Unit 5 Written Assignment: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

July 22, 2026

Task 1: Conceptual Questions

i. Definitions, Relationship, Domain and Range

An exponential function has the form f(x) = a·bˣ, where a is the initial value (the y-intercept, since f(0) = a), b is the

base or growth/decay factor (b > 0, b ≠ 1), and x is the exponent, typically representing time or another independent

quantity.

A logarithmic function has the form f(x) = logᵦ(x), where b is the base (b > 0, b ≠ 1), x is the argument (which must

be positive), and f(x) is the exponent that b would need to be raised to in order to produce x.

Relationship: exponential and logarithmic functions are inverse functions of one another. If y = bˣ, then x = logᵦ(y).

Graphically, their curves are reflections of each other across the line y = x.

Domain and range of the exponential function: domain is all real numbers (−∞, ∞); range is (0, ∞), since the

function never reaches or crosses zero.

Domain and range of the logarithmic function: domain is (0, ∞), since the argument must be positive; range is all

real numbers (−∞, ∞).

ii. Exponential vs. Logarithmic vs. Power Functions

Exponential function example: f(x) = 2ˣ. The variable appears in the exponent. Growth is rapid and multiplicative —

the output is multiplied by a constant factor for every unit increase in x. Special points: horizontal asymptote at y =

0; y-intercept at (0, 1); no x-intercept.

Logarithmic function example: g(x) = log₂(x). The variable appears in the argument. Growth is very slow,

increasing without bound but at a continually decreasing rate. Special points: vertical asymptote at x = 0; x-intercept

at (1, 0); no y-intercept.

Power function example: h(x) = x². The variable is the base with a fixed exponent. Growth is polynomial — faster

than linear but, for large x, slower than exponential. Special points: no asymptotes; passes through the origin (0, 0),

which is both an intercept and a zero of the function.

Graph of the three example functions:

iii. Identifying Exponential Growth

A function shows exponential growth if it fits the form f(x) = a·bˣ with a > 0 and b > 1. In a table of values, the

telltale sign is a constant ratio between consecutive, equally spaced outputs (each step multiplies the previous value

by the same factor), rather than a constant difference, which would instead indicate linear growth.

iv. Which Grows Faster: Exponential or Logarithmic?

Exponential functions grow faster. As x → ∞, an exponential function eventually outpaces any logarithmic function

(and, in fact, any polynomial function as well). Logarithmic growth flattens out and increases at a continually

decreasing rate, while exponential growth accelerates, so the gap between the two widens without bound as x

increases.

v. Observations of Growth Patterns and Special Points

From the graph above: the exponential curve (f(x) = 2ˣ) stays close to zero for negative x and then rises steeply for

positive x, hugging its horizontal asymptote at y = 0 and never crossing the x-axis. The logarithmic curve (g(x) =

log₂(x)) rises quickly just after x = 0 and then flattens noticeably, never touching the y-axis because of its vertical

asymptote at x = 0, and it crosses the x-axis exactly once, at (1, 0). The power curve (h(x) = x²) is a symmetric

parabola with no asymptotes, touching zero only at the origin.

Task 2: Logarithmic Proofs and Equation Solving

i. Prove that log₆(216ˣ/1296ˣ) = −x

Rewrite both bases as powers of 6: 216 = 6³ and 1296 = 6⁴.

216ˣ/1296ˣ = (6³)ˣ/(6⁴)ˣ = 6³ˣ/6⁴ˣ = 6³ˣ⁻⁴ˣ = 6⁻ˣ

Therefore:

log₆(216ˣ/1296ˣ) = log₆(6⁻ˣ) = −x ✓

ii. Prove that log(x+1)² + log(2x−1)³ − log(x)² − log(2x−1)⁴ + 6log(x+1) = log[(x+1)⁸ /

(x²(2x−1))]

Apply the power rule, log(aⁿ) = n·log(a), to every term on the left-hand side:

2log(x+1) + 3log(2x−1) − 2log(x) − 4log(2x−1) + 6log(x+1)

Group like terms together:

 [2log(x+1) + 6log(x+1)] + [3log(2x−1) − 4log(2x−1)] − 2log(x) = 8log(x+1) − log(2x−1) −

2log(x)

Convert back to logarithms of powers, then combine using the product and quotient rules:

= log(x+1)⁸ − log(2x−1) − log(x)² = log[(x+1)⁸ / (2x−1)] − log(x²) = log[(x+1)⁸ / (x²(2x−1))]

iii. Solve for x: 10e²ˣ⁻³ = 15e⁵ˣ⁻⁷

Divide both sides by 10e²ˣ⁻³:

1 = 1.5·e⁵ˣ⁻⁷⁻(²ˣ⁻³) = 1.5·e³ˣ⁻⁴

2/3 = e³ˣ⁻⁴

Take the natural log of both sides:

ln(2/3) = 3x − 4

x = (4 + ln(2/3)) / 3

Since ln(2/3) ≈ −0.4055:

x ≈ (4 − 0.4055) / 3 ≈ 3.5945 / 3 ≈ 1.198

Task 3: Exponential Growth Model — Cancer Cell Research

i. Table of Yearly Increase (2018–2023)

Using P(t) = 232.26(1.02)ᵗ, where t is the number of years since 2018:

Year t (years since 2018) Cancer cell units

2018 0 232.26
2019 1 236.91
2020 2 241.64
2021 3 246.48
2022 4 251.41
 2023 5 256.43

ii. Identifying the Mathematical Function

The data follow an exponential growth function:

P(t) = 232.26(1.02)ᵗ

Key factors: P₀ = 232.26 is the initial cell count in 2018; r = 0.02 is the annual growth rate (2%), giving a growth

factor of b = 1 + r = 1.02; and t is the number of years elapsed since 2018. Because the cell count is multiplied by

the same factor (1.02) each year rather than increased by a constant amount, this is an exponential — not linear —

growth pattern.

iii. Ten-Year Projection

Projecting 10 years from the initial year 2018 (t = 10, corresponding to 2028):

P(10) = 232.26(1.02)¹⁰ = 232.26 × 1.218994 ≈ 283.12 units

At the same 2% annual growth rate, the model projects approximately 283.12 units of cancer cells by 2028.

iv. Growth Pattern Graph

The graph below plots P(t) from t = 0 to t = 15, with gridlines at increments of 100 units on the vertical axis. The

2018–2023 data points are marked in orange, and the 10-year (2028) projection is marked in red.
The curve rises gently rather than dramatically: with only a 2% annual rate, the growth is exponential in form but

slow in pace over this timeframe, which is why the graph looks close to a straight line even though it is a true

exponential curve.