Exponential Function

Exponential function look somewhat similar to functions you have seen before, in that they involve
exponents. But there is a big difference because the variable is now the power rather than the base.

The term exponential is often associated to any phenomenon characterized by rapid growth with
alarming consequences.

An advocacy group follows a pyramid scheme in recruiting members. Each member is committed to
recruiting two new members(Level 1), and these 2 new members will also be tasked to recruit 2 new
members each(Level 2). This process will form a pyramid, with more members recruited at each
succeeding level. Consider the diagram below

Let x be the level number in the recruitment process, and let f(x) be the number of new members
recruited.

Complete the table of values below.

X 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
F(x)

What equation defines the function?

f(x) = ___________

Will the function in this model have an x-intercept? Why or why not? ____________________

Will the function in this model have a y-intercept? Why or why not? _____________________

Suppose it is possible for f to take on negative values. Observe what happens as x becomes smaller
and smaller.

x -5 -10 -20 -30 -50 -100 -1000

F(x)
What happens to the values of f(x) as x decreases? __________
What values does it approach? _________

Will it ever be equal to that value? ______

What is the horizontal asymptote of f?______

The function we have just modeled is called an exponential function. It is a function that illustrates
rapid growth or decay.

Example 1: Which of the following describes an exponential function?

1
a. f(x) = 3 x b. f(x) = ¿ c. f(x) = x−4 d. f(x) = 3 x 2
Solution; The function defined in(a) and (b) are exponential functions. However, (c) and (d) are not
exponential functions.

One can easily identify if a function exhibits exponential behavior using the table of values and
the relationship in its function values.

Consider the table of values of a particular exponential function below.

X 0 1 2 3 4
F(x) 1 3 9 27 81
Notice that any function value for x is 3 times the previous function value. Consequently, this
leads to another observation that the ratio of any two consecutive (n+1) function values is equal to
3.

Thus, in an exponential function, the function values have a common ratio. The relationship that
exists between x and f(x) in the given table can be translated mathematically as f(x) = 3 x.

Definition of Exponential Functions

The exponential function f.

With base b is defined by f(x) = b x where b > 0 and b ≠ 1.

The domain of the exponential function with base b is the set of real numbers. Its range is the set of
positive real numbers.

The following graphs are representative of the graphs of exponential functions.

Example 2: Sketch the graph of the following exponential functions:

a. F(x) = 2 x

X -2 -1 0 1 2 3
F(x) = 2 x 1 1 1 2 4 8
4 2
 Domain: all real numbers

Range: (0, ∞ ¿
F(x) = 2 x x- intercept: none

y- intercept 1
x
1
b. F(x) = ( )
2

X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
1
x 8 4 2 1 1 1
F(x) = ( )
2 2 4

Domain: all real numbers

Range: (0, ∞ ¿

x- intercept: none

y- intercept y=1

Family of Exponential Function Figure shows the graphs

Properties of f(x) = b x of the family of
exponential function by
For positive real numbers b, b≠ 1, the exponential function defined by f(x) = b x , f(x) = b x for various
values of the base b. All
the exponential function defined by f(x) = b x has the following properties:
of these graphs pass
1. f has the set of real numbers as its domain. through the point (0,1).
2. f has the set of positive real numbers as its range. As you can see from the
3. f has a graph with y-intercept of (0, 1). figure that there are
4. f has a graph asymptotic to the x-axis. two kinds of
5. f has a one-to-one function. exponential functions:
6. f is an increasing function if b > 1. If 0 < b < 1, the
7. f is a decreasing function if 0 < b < 1. exponential function
decreases rapidly. If b >
1, the function
increases rapidly.
Translations of Exponential Functions

Example 3: Use the graph of f(x) = 2 x to sketch the graph of:

a. g(x) = 2 x −2 , and b. h(x) = 2 x−1 .

Determine the intercepts, zeroes and asymptotes. State the domain and the range.

Solution:

a. To obtain the graph of : g(x) = 2 x −2 , we start

with the graph of f(x) = 2 x and shift it downward 2 units.

Domain: all real numbers

Range: {y/y > -2}

x
Zeroes: 2 −2
x
2 =2, x=1

y-intercept: -1

b. h(x) = 2 x−1
Solution:

Start with the graph of f(x) = 2 x and shift it to

the right 1 unit, to get the graph of h(x) = 2 x−1 Domain: all real
numbers

Range: {y/y > 0}

Zeroes none

y-intercept: 1
Example 4. Find the horizontal asymptote of m(x) = 100 x−1 .

Solution:

The graph of an exponential function also obeys the rules on transformation. Thus, m is a translation
of the graph of y = 100 x, one unit to the right. The horizontal asymptote is not affected by a horizontal
translation. Therefore, the horizontal asymptote of m will still be the x-axis, or the line y = 0.

Example 5: What is the y-intercept and the horizontal asymptote of the graph of p if p(x) = 5 x+1 -6?

Solution:

y-intercept = 50 +1−6 = -1

horizontal asymptote is y = -1

The y-intercept is the ordinate of the point of intersection of the graph

of a function and the y-axis.
A y-intercept of the function f(x) is f(0).

If f(x) = b x , then b n=b m implies that m= n. So, if the bases of exponential expressions are equal, then
their exponents must be equal as well. This is a powerful statement because it allows us to solve
exponential equations.

Your knowledge on the different laws of exponents is very useful in solving exponential equations.
Recall that for any positive numbers, a and b, the following rules hold for all real numbers x and y.

x y x+ y
a. Product rule: a ∙ a =a
x x
a ∙ b =¿
x x x
a x− y a a
b. Quotient rule: y = a ( ) = x
a b b
x y
c. Power rule: (a ) = a xy
0
d. Zero rule: a =1
1
e. Negative exponent rule: = x
Example 6: Solve each exponential equation. a

Note :The property of equality for exponential equation, also known as the equating-
exponent property, implies that in an exponential equation, if the bases are equal, the
exponent must also be equal, or, if the exponents are equal, the bases must also be equal.

b. 22 x−1=43 x+2
 −x 1 2
2 x−1
= (22 )3 x+2
a. 16 =
64 2 x−1
2 = 26 x+4
Solution:
2x – 1 = 6x + 4
2 −x −1
( 4 ) =64 -4x = 5 or x = -5/4
−2 x 3 −1
4 =( 4 ) −5
The solution set is { }
4
−2 x
=4 −3 4
-2x = -3 2 ( −54 )−1 = 3 (−54 )+2
2 4
3
x= −7 −7 −7
2 =
2 2 =4 4
2 2

3
The solution set is { }.
2
−3
2 1 1 1
Check: 16 = 3
= 3
=
2 4 64
16

2
d.. 3 x = 92 x−1
3
c.
a 4 = 81
2
2 2 x−1
3 x = (3 )
2
4 x−2
3 4
=3 3x = 3
4
a 2
x = 4x -2
3 3 4 2
.
4 = (3 4)1 = (3 4) 4 3 x -4x + 2 = 0
a
4 3
4.
= (3 3 4
)
3 16 3 16 4 ± √ (−4)2−4(1)(2)
x=
a = (3 ) → a = 3
4 3 4 3
2(1)
x = 2±√ 2
√3 315 .3 = 35 √3 3 = 243√3 3
The solution set is{2 +√ 2 ,2-√ 2 }
The solution set is {243√
3
3}.

Example 7: Solve each exponential equation.

x 1 b, x−1
8 =16
3x
a. 2 =
2 Solution:
(2¿¿ 3)(x−1 ) ¿ = ¿
 1 3 (x -1) = 4(3x)
Solution: 2 x = 3x – 3 = 12x
2
x −1 12x -3x = -3
2 = 2
9x = -3
x = -1
1
x=-
3

−x 1 d. 2x
9 = 27
c .3 =
243
1 1 Solution:
Solution: x = 5
3 3 ( 32 ¿ ¿2 x = 33
2(2x) = 3
x=5 4x =3
3
x=
4

2 x−2
1
Example 8: Solve ( ) • 625 x = 125
125
Solution: Expressing each term as an exponential expression

−2 x+6
5 = 53

( 51 )
2 x−2

3 • 54 x = 53 -2x +6 = 3
-2x = -3
−3 2 x−2 4x 3
(5 ) • 5 =5 3
x=
5
−6 x+6
•5 4x
=5 3 2
−6 x+6 +4 x
5 = 53

Example 9: Solve 4 −n −2• 4 n = 64

Solution:

Expressing 64 as an exponential expression with base 4

−n −2
4 • 4n = 43

-n - 2 + n = 3

-2 = 3
 Since -2 =3 is a false statement, the equation has no solution

Exponential Inequality
Solving an exponential inequality is much like solving a linear inequality, only that the former applies
the property of equality for exponential equations. Consider the example below.

Example 1: Solve the exponential inequality 4 x+3 < 8 x+1

Solution: Expressing each term as an exponential expression

with base 2.
¿<¿
2 x +6
2 < 23 x+3
2x – 3x < 3 – 6
Therefore the solution set of the given inequality is (3,
-x < -3 ∞ ¿.
x>3

3 x+ 1 2+2 x
1 1
Example 2: Solve ( ) ≤ ( )
2 4
Solution: Expressing the right side as an exponential expression
1
3 x+ 1
1
2(2+2 x)
1
( ) ≤ ( ) with base .
2 2 2
−1 (3 x+1)
2 ≤ 2−1 (4+ 4 x) X ≤ -3 Assigning values of x that satisfy the inequality
-1(3x + 1) ≤ -1(4 + 4x)
x ≤ -3 verifies that the solution
-3x - 1≤ -4 – 4x
-3x + 4x ≤ -4 + 1 Set of the given exponential inequality is the interval
(-∞ ,−3 ¿ .
X< -3

1−2 x
Example 3: Find the solution set of the inequality ( √
3
10) > 0.12 x+1
Solution: Expressing each term as an exponential expression
1
−1 (2 x+1) with base 10
3 1−2 x
(10 ) > 10

1−2 x
> -2x – 1
3
1 – 2x > -6x - 3
Therefore, the solution set is ( -1, ∞ ¿.
-2x + 6x > -3 –
1
4x > -4
x >-1