Digital Lesson

Exponential Functions and

Their Graphs

The exponential function f with base a is

defined by
f(x) = ax
where a > 0, a 1, and x is any real number.
For instance,
f(x) = 3x and g(x) = 0.5x
are exponential functions.

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The value of f(x) = 3x when x = 2 is

f(2) = 32 = 9
The value of f(x) = 3x when x = 2 is
f(2) =

32

1
=
9

The value of g(x) = 0.5x when x = 4 is

g(4) = 0.54 = 0.0625

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The graph of f(x) = ax, a > 1

y

Range: (0, )
(0, 1)

x
4

Domain: (, )

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Horizontal Asymptote
y=0

The graph of f(x) = ax, 0 < a < 1

y

Range: (0, )

Horizontal Asymptote
y=0
(0, 1)

x
4

Domain: (, )

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Example: Sketch the graph of f(x) = 2x.

f(x) (x, f(x))

-2

(-2, )

-1
0
1
2

1
2
4

(-1, )
(0, 1)
(1, 2)
(2, 4)

x
2

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Example: Sketch the graph of g(x) = 2x 1. State the

domain and range.
The graph of this
function is a vertical
translation of the
graph of f(x) = 2x
down one unit .

f(x) = 2x

Domain: (, )

Range: (1, )

y = 1

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Example: Sketch the graph of g(x) = 2-x. State the

domain and range.
y

The graph of this

function is a
reflection the graph
of f(x) = 2x in the yaxis.

f(x) = 2x

Domain: (, )
Range: (0, )

x
2

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The graph of f(x) = ex

y

x
-2
-1
0
1
2

6
4
2

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f(x)
0.14
0.38
1
2.72
7.39

x
2

The irrational number e, where

e 2.718281828
is used in applications involving growth and
decay.
Using techniques of calculus, it can be shown
that
n

1
1 e as n
n

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