5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

5.1 Exponential functions

An exponential (or power) function is of the form y  ax.
5 Exponential and Logarithmic a is known as the base 1a  12.

Functions x is known as the exponent, power or index.

Remember the following rules for indices:
In this chapter we will meet logarithms, 1. ap  aq  apq
which have many important applications, ap
particularly in the field of natural science. 2. q  apq
a
Logarithms were invented by John Napier 3. 1ap 2 q  apq
as an aid to computation in the 16th 1
century. 4. p  ap
a
p
q p
5. 2a  aq
John Napier was born in Edinburgh,
6. a  1
0
Scotland, in 1550. Few records exist about
John Napier’s early life, but it is known that
he was educated at St Andrews University,
beginning in 1563 at the age of 13. Example
However, it appears that he did not graduate 1 2

from the university as his name does not x5  x5

Simplify .
5 3
appear on any subsequent pass lists.The 2x
assumption is that Napier left to study in 1 2 3
x5  x5 x5
Europe.There is no record of where he  3  x0  1
went, but the University of Paris is likely, 2x
5 3
x5
and there are also indications that he spent John Napier
time in Italy and the Netherlands.

While at St. Andrews University, Napier became very interested in theology and he Example
took part in the religious controversies of the time. He was a devout Protestant, and
Evaluate 83 without a calculator.
2
his most important work, the Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St. John was published ˛

in 1593.
1 1 1
83 
2
˛

 2

It is not clear where Napier learned mathematics, but it remained a hobby of his, with 28 3 2 2 4
him saying that he often found it hard to find the time to work on it alongside his
work on theology. He is best remembered for his invention of logarithms, which
were used by Kepler, whose work was the basis for Newton’s theory of gravitation.
However his mathematics went beyond this and he also worked on exponential
expressions for trigonometric functions, the decimal notation for fractions, a Graphing exponential functions
mnemonic for formulae used in solving spherical triangles, and “Napier’s analogies”, Consider the function y  2x.
two formulae used in solving spherical triangles. He was also the inventor of
“Napier’s bones”, used for mechanically multiplying, dividing and taking square and
cube roots. Napier also found exponential epressions for trignometric functions, and x 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5
introduced the decimal notation for fractions. 1 1
y 1 2 4 8 16 32 The y-values double for
4 2 every integral increase of x.
We can still sympathize with his sentiments today, when in the preface to the Mirifici
logarithmorum canonis descriptio, Napier says he hopes that his “logarithms will save
calculators much time and free them from the slippery errors of calculations”.

108 1 109
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

The first few points are shown in this graph: 1 x 1

Now y  ¢ ≤  x  2x. All exponential graphs of the form y  ax, 0 6 a 6 1 can
2 2
y
8
(3, 8)
be expressed in this way, and from our knowledge of transformations of functions this is
7
6
actually a reflection in the y-axis.
5
1
1 , 2 4 Hence this is the general graph of y  ax, a 7 1:
(2, 4)
3
1
2 , 4 2
(1, 2)
1 y
x
21 0 1 2 3

Investigation
Using a graphing calculator, sketch these graphs:
1
(a) y  3x (b) y  4x (c) y  5x (d) y  10x
0 x
Try to identify a pattern.
This is known as exponential decay. Exponential decay graphs can be expressed as
The investigation should have revealed that all exponential graphs
y  ax, a 7 1 or as y  ax, 0 6 a 6 1 as shown above.
1. pass through the point (0,1)
2. have a similar shape
3. are entirely above the x-axis.

Exercise 1

1 Simplify these.
p7
a p4  p5 b c 1x3 2 5 d 3y2  7y3
p2
1
8p6 18p5
e 12x3 2 4
x
0 f t4  t2 g h
4p4 3p2
This shape is known as exponential growth, and all graphs of the form y  ax, a 7 1 2 Without using a calculator, evaluate these.
c 101
1 1
have this shape. The domain restriction of a 7 1 is important. We know that when a 162 b 814
a  1 the graph is the horizontal line y  1, and below we will see what happens
f 92
3 1
d 190 e 252 ˛

when 0 6 a 6 1.
1 3
2
˛

23 32
1 x g 8 ˛

h 4 ˛

i ¢ ≤
For graphs of the form y  ax, 0 6 a 6 1 let us consider y  ¢ ≤ . 27
2 3 Simplify these.
x5  x3 4y3  2y6
a b
x 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 x2 6y5

5p3  2p5
1
1 1 1 1 1
y 4 2 1 t2  t3
2 4 8 16 32 c d
p4
3
t2

4m3  3m3
5 5

f 3x2 14x3  5x1 2

The first few points are shown in this graph: ˛

e 2

y 2m3
8
g x2 12x2  x2 2 h 1x2  x2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1
7 ˛ ˛

6
5
(2, 4) 4 Draw the graph of each of these.
4
3 1
1, 2 a y  3x b y  5x c y  6x d y  10x
(1, 2) 2 1
2, 4
(0, 1)1 1 x 3 x 2 x
x e y¢ ≤ f y  6x g y¢ ≤ h y¢ ≤
4321 0 1 2 3 4 4 2 3

110 111
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

5.2 Logarithmic graphs Interpreting a logarithm

In the study of inverse functions, it was found that an inverse function exists only for A logarithm can be interpreted by “the answer to a logarithm is a power”.
one-to-one functions. The question is whether there is an inverse function for This comes from the definition:
exponential functions.
loga q  p 3 ap  q
y
y  ax So, for example, log2 64  x 3 2x  64 1 x  6.

Example

1
Find log5 125. This is asking “What
power of 5 gives 125?”
0 x log5 125  x 1 5x  125
1x3
Using the tests of horizontal and vertical lines, it is clear that any of these lines pass
through only one point (or no point) on the graph.

So, for any exponential function y  ax 1a  12, an inverse function exists.

Example
In Chapter 3, we also found that the graph of an inverse function is the reflection of the
original function in the line y  x. Using this, we can find the shape of the inverse 1
function. Evaluate (a) log25 5 (b) log5¢ ≤
25
y  f(x) (a) log25 5  x 1
y yx (b) log5¢ ≤x
1 25  5 x
25
y  f1(x) 1 1
1x 1 5x 
1 2 25
0 1 x 1 x  2

There are two important results to remember:

As all exponential graphs have the same shape, all inverse graphs will also have the same
shape. These inverse functions are known as logarithmic functions. loga 1  0 These come from a0  1
Logarithmic functions are defined loga a  1 and a1  a.

y  ax 3 x  loga y

Example
Consider the exponential function y  2x.
y  2x 1 x  log2 y Sketch the graph of y  log3 x.
We know the shape, and that the graph passes through (1, 0).
This means that the inverse function is written y  log2 x.
In log2 x, 2 is known as As the base is 3, we know that log3 3  1, so the graph passes through (3,1).
There are two key features of logarithmic graphs: the base.
y
1. Logarithmic functions are defined only for x 7 0.
2. All logarithmic graphs pass through (1,0).
(3, 1)
This means that we can summarize the domain and range for exponential and
logarithmic functions. 0 1 x

Domain Range
Exponential  y 7 0

Logarithmic x 7 0 

112 113
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

2. Similarly, let loga x  p and loga y  q.

Exercise 2
x ap
So  q  apq
1 Sketch these graphs. y a
a y  log2 x b y  log4 x x
Hence loga¢ ≤  p  q
y It is worth noting that
c y  log5 x d y  log10 x
x 1
2 Sketch these functions on the same graph. 1 loga¢ ≤  loga x  loga y  loga x.
y loga x
a y  3x and y  log3 x b y  5x and y  log5 x
3 Without a calculator, evaluate these logarithms. 3. Again, let loga x  p and loga y  q.
a log2 4 b log3 9 c log5 25 d log3 27 e log6 216 So xm  1ap 2 m  amp For these rules to work,
the logarithms must have
Hence loga xm  mp
f log2 32 g log4 64 h log2 64 i log8 64 j log10 100 the same base.
 m loga x
k log10 1000 l log7 7 m log3 3 n log8 1
4 Without a calculator, evaluate these logarithms.
a log8 2 b log9 3 c log4 2 d log25 5
Example
e log64 8 f log64 2 g log8 4 h log16 8
5 Without a calculator, evaluate these logarithms. Simplify logx 8  logx 3  logx 6.

1 1 1 1 83
a log2¢ ≤ b log2¢ ≤ c log3¢ ≤ d log3¢ ≤ logx 8  logx 3  logx 6  logx ¢ ≤
16 8 9 27 6
1 1 1  logx 4
e log3¢ ≤ f log8¢ ≤ g log25¢ ≤
81 2 5
6 Without a calculator, evaluate these logarithms.
1
a loga a b loga a2 c loga 1a d loga¢ ≤ e loga a
a Example

Simplify 3 logp 2  logp 12  2 logp 4

5.3 Rules of logarithms 3 logp 2  logp 12  2 logp 4  logp 23  logp 12  logp 42

 logp 8  logp 12  logp 16
As there are for exponentials, there are rules for logarithms that help to simplify
logarithmic expressions. 8  16
 logp¢ ≤
For exponentials, we have the rules: 12

1. ap  aq  apq 2. ap  aq  apq 3. 1ap 2 q  apq  logp¢

32
≤
3
The corresponding rules for logarithms are:

1. loga xy  loga x  loga y
3. loga xm  m loga x
x
2. loga¢ ≤  loga x  loga y
y Example
Simplify and evaluate 2 log10 5  2 log10 2.

2 log10 5  2 log10 2  log10 52  log10 22

Proofs
 log10 25  log10 4
1. Let loga x  p and loga y  q.  log10 100
This means that x  ap and y  aq. 2
Since xy  ap  aq  apq, xy  apq. It is very important to
remember that
By the definition of a logarithm this means that loga xy  p  q logp a  logp b  logp 1a  b2.
1 loga xy  loga x  loga y These rules can also be used to solve equations involving logarithms.

114 115
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

6 If loga y  loga 4  3 loga x, express y in terms of x.

Example
Solve log6 1x  22  log6 1x  12  1 for x 7 0.
log6 1x  22  log6 1x  12  1
1 log6 1x  22 1x  12  1
1 log6 1x  22 1x  12  log6 6
1 1x  22 1x  12  6
1 x  3x  2  6
2
1 x  3x  4  0
2 2
1 1x  42 1x  12  0
1x1
7 If loga y  2 loga 3  4 loga x, express y in terms of x.
8 If loga y  loga p  5 loga x, express y in terms of p and x.
9 If 2 log2 y  log2 1x  12  3, show that y2  81x  12 .
10 Solve for x 7 0.
Expressing 1 as a logarithm. a loga x  loga 2  loga 14 b loga x  loga 3  loga 19
c loga x  2 loga 2  loga 24 d loga x  2 loga 5  loga 225
1
e loga x2  loga¢ ≤  loga 32 f loga 6  loga x  loga 1
g
1
loga x  loga 6  loga 30 h 2 loga x  loga x  loga 9
Since x 7 0. 2
11 Solve for x 7 0.
a loga 1x  22  loga 1x  12  loga 4 b log5 1x  12  log5 1x  32  1
c log4 13x  12  log4 1x  1 2  1 d log8 1x2  1 2  log8 1x  12  2

e log16 1x  22  log16 1x  62  f log7 12x  52  log7 1x  52  log7¢ ≤

Exercise 3 1 x
2 2
1 Simplify these.
12 Volume of sound is measured in decibels. The difference in volume between two
a loga 2  loga 9 b loga 5  loga 3 c loga 10  loga 2
S1
1 sounds can be calculated using the formula d  50 log10¢ ≤ where S1 and S2
d loga 8  loga 8 e loga 2  loga 3  loga 4 f loga 16 S2
2
g 5 loga 2 h 2 loga 6  loga 2  loga 12 i 3 loga 2 are sound intensities 1S1 7 S2 2. The volume of normal conversation is 60 dB and
j 2 loga 3  3 loga 2 k loga 6  2 loga 2  loga 8 the volume of a car horn is 110 dB. The sound intensity of normal conversation
2 Express each of these as a single logarithm of a number.
a 1  log3 5 b log2 10  2 1S2 2 is 40 phons. What is the sound intensity of a car horn 1S1 2?

c 5  2 log2 6 d loga x  2 loga y  3 loga t

3 Simplify these. 5.4 Logarithms on a calculator

a log10 4  log10 125 b log3 63  log3 7
c log6 2  log6 3 d log4 36  log4 18
The natural base
There is a special base, denoted e, which is known as the natural base. The reason why this
1
e log3 6  log3 12  log3 8 f log6 12  log6¢ ≤ base is special is covered in Chapter 9. This number e is the irrational number 2.718 p
3
1 1 The exponential function to the base e is f1x2  ex, which is also written exp(x).
g log2 16  log2 8 h log5 64  6 log5 2
2 3
exp1x2  ex
1 1
i log2 3  log2 2  log2 6  log2 8 j log2¢ ≤  2 log2¢ ≤ There is also a notation for its inverse (logarithmic) function known as the natural
4 8
1 logarithmic function. It is also sometimes called a Naperian logarithm after John Napier.
k 2 log4 8  log4¢ ≤
2
loge x  ln x
4 Simplify these.
a loga 3  loga x  2 loga x The graphs of these functions have the same shape as other logarithmic and exponential
b loga 4  loga 2x graphs.
y  ex
c loga 1x  12  loga 1x2  12  2 loga 1x  12 y
d 3 loga 1x  22  loga 13x2  122  loga 1x  22 y  ln x
5 Simplify these. 1
In particular note that
a log2 4 b log4 2 c log9 27 0 1 x ln e  1.
d log27 9 e log10 100 f log100 10
What is the connection between logx y and logy x?

116 117
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Calculators perform logarithms in only two bases, 10 and e. For these two logarithms, The change of base formula can be used to sketch any logarithmic function on the
the base is rarely explicitly stated. For the natural base the notation is ln, and for base 10 calculator.
it is often just written log x, and the base is assumed to be 10.
Example
Example
Sketch y  log6 x.
Find log10 7 and ln 7.

Exercise 3 question 5 asked “What is the connection between logx y and logy x? ” The
Change of base formula answer is a special case of the change of base formula, namely that

To find logarithms in other bases, we need to change the base using this formula:
logy y 1
logx y  
logb x logy x logy x
loga x 
logb a
This can be used to help solve equations.
Proof
Example
loga x  y
Use the change of base formula to solve log9 x  2 logx 9  3.
1 x  ay
1 logb x  logb ay 2
This can be changed into log9 x   3.
log9 x
1 logb x  y logb a
Multiplying by log9 x gives
logb x
1y
logb a 1log9 x2 2  2  3 log9 x
1 1log9 x2 2  3 log9 x  2  0
If we are using this formula to find a logarithm on a calculator, it is often written as
1 y2  3y  2  0 Let y  log9 x
ln x 1 1y  12 1y  22  0
loga x 
ln a 1 1log9 x  12 1log9 x  22  0
1 log9 x  1 or log9 x  2
1 x  9 or x  81
Example
Use the change of base formula to evaluate these.
(a) log2 8 (b) log3 10 Exercise 4

Be careful with brackets. 1 Using a calculator, evaluate these.

a log10 1000 b log10 8 c log10 26
1
d log10 3 e log10¢ ≤
2
2 Using a calculator, evaluate these.
a ln 10 b ln 9 c ln 31
1
d ln¢ ≤ e ln 7.5 f ln(0.328)
2
118 119
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

3 Use the change of base formula to evaluate these.

Example
a log4 16 b log2 9 c log3 11 d log4 17 e log5 80

1 1 Solve 32x1  40.

f log6 12 g log9 12 h log4 13 i log4¢ ≤ j log5¢ ≤
2 6 32x1  40
1 1 2 5 1 ln 32x1  ln 40
k log7¢ ≤ l log8¢ ≤ m log6¢ ≤ n log5¢ ≤
1 12x  12ln 3  ln 40
o log8 9.21
8 4 3 7
q log4 10.1262 r log9 10.3242
ln 40
p log6 4.38 1 2x  1 
ln 3
4 Use your calculator to sketch these. 1 2x  1  3.357 p
a y  log5 x b y  log7 x c y  log9 x 1 x  2.18 13 sf2
5 Use the change of base formula to solve these.
a log4 x  5 logx 4  6 Natural logarithm equations can also be solved using a calculator.
b log2 x  6 logx 2  1
c log7 x  12 logx 7  4
Example

Solve ln x  11.

5.5 Exponential equations Remembering this means loge x  11, this can be written

Logarithms can be used to solve exponential equations and this is one of their greatest x  e11
applications today. When logarithms were first advanced by Napier, they were used as a 1 x  59 900 13 sf2
computational aid. Exponential equations are ones where we are trying to find the power.
The logarithmic rule of loga xp  p loga x is particularly useful for these equations.
Exponential functions are very important in the study of growth and decay, and are
often used as mathematical models.
Method for solving an exponential equation

1. Take natural logs of both sides. Example

2. “Bring down” the power.
3. Divide the logs. A population of rats increases according to the formula R1t2  8e0.22t, where t is
4. Solve for x. the time in months.
(a) How many rats were there at the beginning?
(b) How long will it be until there are 80 rats?
Example
(a) When t  0, R102  8e0  8
Solve 2x  7.
(b) 8e0.22t  80
2 7x
1 e0.22t  10
1 ln 2x  ln 7
1 x ln 2  ln 7 1 ln e0.22t  ln 10
ln 7 1 0.22t  ln 10
1x
ln 2 ln 10
1t
1 x  2.81 0.22
1 t  10.5 months

Example
Example
Solve ex  12.
ex  12 For a radioactive isotope A  A0ekt, where A is the mass of isotope in grams,
˛

1 ln ex  ln 12 A0 is the initial mass, and t is time in years.

1 x ln e  ln 12 In 5 years, 40 g of this substance reduced to 34 g.
1 x  ln 12 Since ln e  1. (a) Find the value of k, correct to 3 sig figs.
1 x  2.48 (b) Find the half-life of this substance.

120 121
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

(a) A0  40, A  34, t  5

1 2113x 2  2 
3
1 40e5k  34
3x
1 21132x 2  213x 2  3
34
1 e5k 
1 21132x 2  213x 2  3  0
40
34 1 21y2  2y  3  0 Let y  3x.
1 5k  ln¢ ≤
40 1 17y  32 13y  12  0
1 k  0.0325
3 1
1y or y  
(b) The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time taken for only half of the 7 3
original amount to remain. 3
1 3x 
A 1 7
i.e. 
A0 2 3
1 x  log3¢ ≤
1 7
1 e0.0325t 
2 1 x  1  log3 7
1
1 0.0325t  ln
2
1 t  21.3 years

Exercise 5
Example 1 Solve for x.
a 2x  256 b 3x  40 c 5x  20
Solve 16x 2 132x1 2  4x2, giving your answer in the form x 
ln a
, where d 12x  6500 e 8x  6 f 14x  3
ln b
2 Solve for x.
a, b H .
a ex  12 b ex  30 c ex  270
16x 2 132x1 2  4x2 d 4ex  18 e 8ex  3
1 ln3 16x 2 132x1 2 4  ln 4x2 3 Solve for x.
1 x ln 6  12x  12ln 3  1x  22ln 4 a ln x  9 b ln x  2 c ln x  10
1 x ln 6  2x ln 3  ln 3  x ln 4  2 ln 4 d ln x  16 e ln x  0.2
1 x ln 6  x ln 9  ln 3  x ln 4  ln 16 4 Find the least positive value of x H  for which the inequality is true.
1 x 1ln 6  ln 9  ln 4 2  ln 16  ln 3
˛
a 2x 7 350 b 3x 7 300 c 10x 7 210 d 5x 7 7200
27 16 5 The number of bacteria in a culture is given by B1t2  40e0.6t, where t is
1 x ln¢ ≤  ln¢ ≤
2 3 the time in days.
16 a How many bacteria are there when t  0?
ln¢ ≤
3 b How many bacteria are there after 2 days?
1x
27 c How long will it take for the number of bacteria to increase to ten times its
ln¢ ≤
2 original number?
6 According to one mobile phone company, the number of people owning a
mobile phone is growing according to the formula N1t2  100 000e0.09t,
Sometimes exponential equations can be reduced to quadratic form. where t is time in months. Their target is for 3 million people to own a mobile
phone. How long will it be before this target is reached?
Example 7 When a bowl of soup is removed from the microwave, it cools according to
the model T1t2  80e0.12t, t in minutes and T in ° C.

Solve 713x1 2  2 
3 a What was its temperature when removed from the microwave?
, giving the answer in the form a  log3 b, where
3x b The temperature of the room is 22° C. How long will it be before the soup
a, b H . has cooled to room temperature?
8 A radioactive isotope is giving off radiation and hence losing mass according
713x1 2  2 
3
3x to the model M1t2  2100e0.012t, t in years and M in grams.
a What was its original mass?
1 713x 2 131 2  2  x
3
b What will its mass be after 20 years?
3
c What is the half-life of the isotope?
122 123
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

9 The height of a satellite orbiting Earth is changing according to the formula

H1t2  30000e0.2t, t in years and H in km.
5.6 Related graphs
Exponential and logarithmic graphs are transformed in the same way as other functions,
a What will be the height of the satellite above the Earth after 2 years?
as studied previously.
b When the satellite reaches 320 km from the Earth, it will burn up in the
Earth’s atmosphere. How long before this happens? We can sketch and interpret related exponential and logarithmic graphs using this
information.
10 Scientists are concerned about the population of cheetahs in a game park in
Tanzania. Their study in 2006 produced the model
P1t2  220e0.15t, where P is the population of cheetahs and t is the time in
Example
years from 2006.
a How many cheetahs were there in 2006? Sketch the graph of y  4x  2.
b How many cheetahs do they predict will be in the park in 2015? y
c If the population drops to single figures, scientists predict the remaining This is a vertical shift
downwards of 2 units.
cheetahs will not survive. When will this take place? (1, 2)
11 The pressure in a boiler is falling according to the formula Pt  P0ekt, where
˛

P0 is the initial pressure, Pt is the pressure at time t, and t is the time in hours. 0
1
x
For exponential graphs,
a At time zero, the pressure is 2.2 units but 24 hours later it has dropped 1.6 we often plot the points
2
units. Find the value of k to 3 sf. for x  0 and x  1.
b If the pressure falls below 0.9 units, the boiler cuts out. How long before it
will cut out?
c If the boiler’s initial pressure is changed to 2.5 units, how much longer will it
be operational?
12 A radioactive substance is losing mass according to the formula Mt  M0ekt ˛
Example This is a horizontal shift
where M0 is the initial mass, Mt is the mass after t years. right of 1 unit and a
Sketch the graph of y  log2 1x  12  3.
vertical shift of 3 units.
a If the initial mass is 900 g and after 5 years it has reduced to 850 g, find k.
b What is the half-life of this substance?
y
ln a For logarithmic graphs,
13 Solve 3x1  22x. Give your answer in the form x  , where a, b H .
ln b we often plot the points
(3,4)
when x  1 and x  a,
14 Solve 14x 2 132x1 2  6x1. Give your answer in the form x 
ln a (2,3)
, where where a is the base (or
ln b
a, b H . 0 1 x their images under
transformation). So here
15 Solve 14x 2 15x1 2  22x1. Give your answer in the form x 
ln a
, where 11, 02 S 12, 32 and
12, 12 S 13, 42
ln b
a, b H .

16 Solve 12x 2 132x1 2  4x3. Give your answer in the form x 

ln a
, where Notice the vertical
ln b
Example asymptote has moved to
a, b H .
x  1.
Sketch the graph of y  log3 x2  4.
17 Solve 512x1 2  3 
4
, giving your answer in the form x  a  log2 b,
2x From log rules, we know that this is the same as y  2 log3 x  4.
where a, b H . 11, 02 S 11, 42
13, 12 S 13, 62
18 Solve 214x1 2  2 
3
, giving your answer in the form x  a  log4 b, y
4x (3, 6)

where a, b H . (1, 4)

19 Solve 214 2  12  x , giving your answer in the form x  a  log4 b,

x2 5
4
where a, b H . 0 x

20 Solve 316 2  1  x , giving your answer in the form x  a  log6 b,

x1 4
6
where a, b H .
21 Solve 4x  412x 2  5  0.
22 Solve 9x  413x 2  12  0.
124 125
5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

6 For this graph of y  kex, what is the value of k?

Example
y
For this graph of y  kex, what is the value of k?
y
5

0 x

0 x
7 For this graph of y  k  2x  p, what are the values of k and p?

y
As (0,3) lies on the graph it has been stretched  3. So k  3.
(1, 7)
5

0 x

Example

Part of the graph of y  p log2 1x  q2 is shown. What are the values of p and q?
8 The sketch shows the graph of y  loga x. Find the value of a.

y y

(7, 4) The graph has been shifted 5 places right

so q  5. (9, 2)
So for 17, 4 2, 4  p log2 17  52
0 1 x
0 x
5 6  p log2 2
p
So p  4 and q  5
9 The sketch shows the graph of y  loga 1x  p2. Find the values of p and a.

y
(1, 1)

Exercise 6

1 Sketch these graphs. 3 2 0 x

x
a y  2x b y  2x  3 c y2 d y2 x3

2 Sketch these graphs.

a y  ex b y  4ex c y  ex d y  ex2
3 Sketch these graphs. 10 The sketch shows part of the graph of y  a log6 1x  p2. Find the values of a
a y  4ex b y  2ex  1 c y  3e x2
d y  5ex1
3 and p.
4 Sketch these graphs. y
a y  log4 x b y  log4 x  2 (9, 6)

c y  log4 1x  22 d y  log4 x
5 Sketch these graphs.
a y  log3 x b y  log3 x2
0 4 x

d y  3 log3 1x  22
1
c y  log3¢ ≤
x

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5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 5 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

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15 A truck has a slow puncture in one of its tyres, causing the pressure to
Review exercise
7 8 9 –
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1 2 3

drop. The pressure at time t, Pt, is modelled by Pt  P0ekt, where t is in

=
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hours and P0 is the inflation pressure.

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1 Simplify these.
1 3
a Initially the tyre is inflated to 50 units. After 18 hours, it drops to 16 units.
5p2  3p4
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x7  x2
c x2 12x2  4x2 2
1 1 3 Calculate the value of k.
a b ˛ ˛

x3
3
p2 b The truck will not be allowed to make a journey if the pressure falls below
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2 Draw these graphs. 30 units. If the driver inflates the tyre to 50 units immediately before
a y  6x
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departure, will he be able to make a round trip that takes 6 hours?

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b log6 x
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3 Evaluate these.
1 ✗ 16 Solve log 2100  x  21.
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3 2
[IB Nov 03 P1 Q10]
d log5¢ ≤
7 8 9 –
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a log2 32 b log5 125 c log8 2

4 5 6
1 2 3
=
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4 Simplify these.
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✗ 17 Find the exact value of x satisfying the equation 13 2 14
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=
x 2x1
2  6x2
ln a
1 2 3

a loga 16  loga 3 b logp 8  logp 4  logp 16 c 2 loga 5  1

=
0 +

Give your answer in the form , where a, b H . [IB May 03 P1 Q12]

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5 Simplify these.
ln b

✗ 18 Solve 215 2 1

7 8 9 –

3
4 5 6 ÷
1 2 3
=

a log3 x  log3 8 b log4 6  log4 2  log4 3

0 +

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x1
, giving your answer in the form a  log5 b,
5x
7 8 9 –
4 5 6 ÷

✗
1 2 3
=
0 +

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6 Solve for x 7 0. where a, b H . [IB Nov 03 P1 Q19]
0 +

1
a loga x  loga 6  loga 54 b
2
loga x  loga 5  loga 45
✗ 19 Solve the simultaneous equations log y  1 and xy  16 for x, y 7 0.
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c log5 1x  12  log5 1x  22  log5 10 d log3 1x  22  log3 1x  12  2
7 8 9 –
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1 2 3
=
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7 Evaluate these. ✗ 20 Solve the simultaneous equations log 1x  y2  0 and

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2 log x  log14y  12.
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a
0 +

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a log4 7
Solve for x.
b log9 4 c log11 2 d 3 log8 5
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Solve
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the system of simultaneous equations:
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x  2y  5
7 8 9 –
4 5 6 ÷
1 2 3
=
0 +

a ln x  9 b ln x  17 c 5 ln x  19
4x  8y [IB Nov 98 P1 Q2]
9 Solve for x.
✗
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22 If f1x2  ln16x2  5x  62, find

7 8 9 –
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1 2 3
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a 3x  320 b 7x  2 c ex  8 d 5ex  19
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7 8 9 –
4 5 6 ÷
1 2 3
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a the exact domain of f(x)

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b the range of f(x). [IB Nov 98 P1 Q7]
7 8 9 –
4 5 6 ÷
1 2 3
=

a 3x 7 190 b 5x 7 2000 c ex 7 291

0 +

✗ 11
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Sketch these graphs. ✗ 23 Find all real values of x so that 3  1 232 .
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[IB May 98 P1 Q3]
a y  5x  2 b y  6x3 c y  4x1  2 d y  3x  5
=

✗ 24 a Given that log b  log a , find the real numbers k and m such that
0 +

log b c

✗ 12 Sketch these graphs.

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7 8 9 –
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1 2 3
=

c
0 +

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1 2 3

log9 x3  k log3 x and log27 512  m log3 8.

=
0 +

c y  5 log2 1x  12
1
a y  log5 x  2 b y  log7¢ ≤
x 1
b Find all values of x for which log9 x3  log3 x2  log27 512.
✗ 13 For this graph of y  ke
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=
x
, what is the value of k? [IB Nov 97 P1 Q4]

0 x

✗ 14 The sketch shows part of the graph of y  log 1x  q2. What are the values
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=
p
of p and q?
y
(4, 2)

5 4 0 x

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