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

(Abramson, 2023).

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.

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:

Figure 1. f(x) = 2ˣ (exponential), g(x) = log₂(x) (logarithmic), and h(x) = x² (power).

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, exponential growth can be identified when consecutive outputs have a constant ratio,

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.

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 the logarithmic identity

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))]

For the original logarithmic expression to be defined, its logarithmic arguments must be

positive. In particular, (2x−1)³ > 0, so x > 1/2. Therefore, the identity below is valid for x >

1/2.

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(x²) = 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

A quantity that increases by a constant percentage over equal time intervals can be modeled

using an exponential growth function (Yoshiwara, 2020).

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

Since t represents the number of years after the initial year 2018, a ten-year projection means 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

one-year intervals because t measures years since 2018.

Figure 2. P(t) = 232.26(1.02)ᵗ, t = 0 to 15, from 2018 through the 2028 projection

The graph increases slowly because the annual growth rate is only 2%. The curve is exponential

in form — increasing and concave up — but its rise looks gradual over this short timeframe.

References

Abramson, J. (2023). Algebra and trigonometry (2nd ed.). OpenStax.

[Link]

Yoshiwara, K. (2020). Modeling, functions, and graphs. American Institute of Mathematics.

[Link]