Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials and logarithms
Topic assessment
1. Write log x − 3log 2 y + 4log z as a single logarithm. [2]
p
2. Express log in terms of log p, log q and log r. [2]
qr 2
3. Solve the following equations;
(a) 32 x = 5 [2]
(b) 2ex = 3e− x + 5 [3]
(c) ln(2 x + 1) = ln x + 2 [3]
giving your answers in exact form.
4. The temperature TC of the water in a kettle t minutes after boiling is modelled by the
equation T = 20 + 80e−0.5t.
(a) What is the initial temperature of the water? [1]
(b) Find the temperature of the water after 5 minutes. [2]
(c) Find the time at which the temperature of the water is 30°C. [3]
(d) Find the initial rate of cooling, and the rate of cooling after 2 minutes. [3]
(e) What will the long-term temperature of the water be? [1]
5. In an experiment, the number of bacteria, N, in a culture was estimated at time t days after
the experiment started.
The results were as follows:
t 1 2 3 4 5 6
N 120 170 250 400 620 910
It is believed that the relationship between N and t can be expressed in the form
N = abt
where a and b are constants.
(a) Use logarithms to draw a linear graph. [3]
(b) Use your graph to estimate the values of a and b. [3]
(c) Estimate the number of bacteria present after 20 days. State, with a reason, whether
your estimate is likely to be a good one. [2]
6. The equation log3 (2 x + p) = 2log 3 (2 x) − 1 has one real root. What is the value of p? [5]
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Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials & logs Assessment solns
7. It is believed that two quantities, x and y, are connected by a relationship of the form
y = kx n , where k and n are constants.
In an experiment, the following data were produced.
x 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
y 9 24 48 69 102 131 166
To test the relationship Allegra has plotted the points on the graph below and drawn on a
line of best fit:
(a) Use Allegra’s graph to estimate the values of k and n. [3]
(b) Use Allegra’s model to estimate the value of y when x = 60.
Comment upon the reliability of this estimate. [2]
Total 40 marks
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Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials & logs Assessment solns
Solutions to topic assessment
1. log x − 3log2 y + 4log z = log x + log z 4 − log(2 y )3
xz 4
= log 3
8y
[2]
p p 21
2. log 2 = log 2
qr qr
1
= log p 2 − log q − log r 2
= 21 log p − log q − 2log r
[2]
3. (a) 32 x = 5
2 x = log3 5
x = 21 log3 5 = 0.732 (3 s.f.)
[2]
(b) 2e = 3e + 5
x −x
Substituting y = ex : 2 y = 3 y −1 + 5
Multiplying through by y: 2 y 2 = 3 + 5 y
2y2 − 5y − 3 = 0
(2 y + 1)( y − 3) = 0
y = − 21 or 3
e x = − 21 or 3
Since ex cannot be negative, ex = 3 x = ln3 [3]
(c) ln(2 x + 1) = ln x + 2
ln(2 x + 1) − ln x = 2
2 x + 1
ln =2
x
2x + 1 2
=e
x
2 x + 1 = xe2
1 = xe2 − 2 x
1 = x (e2 − 2)
1
x= 2
e −2
[3]
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Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials & logs Assessment solns
4. (a) When t = 0 , T = 100 , so the initial temperature is 100°C [1]
(b) T = 20 + 80e−0.5t
When t = 5, T = 20 + 80e−2.5 = 26.6
The temperature after 5 minutes is 26.6°.
[2]
(c) 30 = 20 + 80e −0.5t
80e−0.5t = 10
e−0.5t = 1
8
−0.5t = ln 81
t = 4.16
After 4.16 minutes.
[3]
dT
(d) = 80 −0.5e−0.5t = −40e−0.5t
dt
dT
When t = 0, = −40e0 = −40
dt
The initial rate of cooling is 40 degrees / minute.
dT
When t = 2, = −40e−1 = −14.7 degrees / minute.
dt
The rate of cooling after 2 minutes is 14.7 degrees / minute. [3]
(e) 20°C [1]
5. (a) N = abt
log N = log(abt )
= log a + log bt
= log a + t log b
This is the equation of a straight line graph with variables t and log N, so
if the relationship is an appropriate model, then plotting log N against t
should give an approximate straight line graph.
t 1 2 3 4 5 6
N 120 170 250 400 620 910
log N 2.08 2.23 2.40 2.60 2.79 2.96
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Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials & logs Assessment solns
3 log N
2 .8
2 .6
2 .4 0.72
2 .2
2 4
1 .8
1 .6 t
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
[3]
(b) Equation of graph is log N = log a + t log b
0.72
Gradient = = 0.18 , so log b = 0.18 b = 100.18 1.5
4
Intercept = 1.88 , so log a = 1.88 a = 101.88 = 76
[3]
(c) N = 76 1.5 t
After 20 days, N = 76 1.520 250000
If conditions remain the same the estimate is likely to be good, but it
could be that the bacteria growth slows if the environment cannot support
those numbers.
[2]
6. log3 (2x + p) = 2log3 (2 x ) − 1
1 = log3 (2 x )2 − log3 (2 x + p)
4x2
= log3
2x + p
4x2
31 =
2x + p
6 x + 3p = 4 x 2
4 x 2 − 6 x − 3p = 0
Using the discriminant: ( −6)2 − 4 4 ( −3 p) = 0
36 + 48 p = 0
p = − 34
[5]
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Edexcel AS Maths Exponentials & logs Assessment solns
7. y = kx n
log y = log(kx n )
= log k + log x n
= log k + n log x
(a) Equation of graph is log y = log k + nlog x
2.1
Gradient = , so n 1.5
1.4
Intercept = −0.12 , so log k = −0.12 k = 10−0.12 0.8 [3]
3
(b) y 0.8 x 2
371.8
The value x = 60 lies well outside the range of results so it isn’t very reliable,
although the model seems reasonable for the values tested the relationship
between x and y may change in nature. [2]
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