GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Module 6: Week 6: Third Grading

Title of the Activity:

Exponential Functions, Equations and Inequalities

Objectives

The main objective of this module is for the students to represents an exponential
function through its: (a) table of values, (b) graph, and (c) equation, and finding domain
and range, intercepts, zeroes, and asymptote of an exponential function.

Learning Competencies (Essential Competencies)

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

1. represents an exponential function through its: (a) table of values, (b) graph, and (c)
equation.
2. determines the intercepts, zeroes, and asymptotes of an exponential function
3. solves problems involving exponential functions, equations, and inequalities.

Let’s Recall

1. Evaluate the following functions for x = -2,0,1,3

a. f(x) = 4x c. f(x) = -1/2(5/6)x e. f(x) = 3/2(2)x
x
b. f(x) = - (1/2) d. f(x) = 4/3(3)x

2. Give the domain and range of the following functions

a. f(x) = 3x – 2

b. g(x) =

c.

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 d.

e.
3. Give the zeroes of the numerator and the denominator of the following functions.

a. L d.
Note:
The zeroes of the numerator
b. r(x) e. are the values of x that will
make the numerator 0.

The zeroes of the

c.
denominator are the values of
x that will make the
denominator 0.

Let’s Understand (Study the Concept)

A. Graphing Exponential Function

Example 1: Sketch the graph of f(x) = 2x

Solution:
Step 1: Construct a table of values of ordered pairs for the given function. The table of values for f(x) = 4 x
X -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) ¼ 1/2 1 2 4 8

Step 2: Plot the points and connect them using soft curve.

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 It can be observed that the function is defined for all
values of x, is strictly increasing, and attains only positive
y-values. As x decreases without bound, the function
approaches 0, i.e., the line y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote.
This trend is also known as exponential growth. A
function f(x) = kax displays exponential growth if a > 1.

Example 3 : Graph g(x) = (1/2)x

Step 1: Table of values
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
g(x) 8 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16

Step 2: Graph

It can be observed that the function is defined

for all values of x, is strictly decreasing, and
attains only positive values. As x increases
without bound, the function approaches 0,
i.e., the line y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote.
This trend is also called exponential decay
and it happens when the value of the base is
between 0 and 1 or if 0 < a < 1 for f(x) = kax .

B. Intercepts and Asymptotes of Exponential Functions

The function in the form f(x) = kax + c. This function has the following properties
 If k and c have opposite signs, then f(x) has no x-intercept.
 The y-intercept of f(x) is (0,k+c)
 The function has no vertical asymptotes
 The horizontal asymptote of f(x) is y = c

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Example 4: Identify the intercepts and asymptotes of the exponential function
Solution:
 The function is in the form of f(x) = kax + c where k = 5, a = 1/5, so there is no x-intercept
or zeroes.
 The y-intercept of the function is (0,5) since the function is in the form of f(x) = kax + c
 It has no vertical asymptote since the domain is the set of real numbers.
 The horizontal asymptote is y = 0 which is asymptotic to x-axis

Graph:

Example 5: Find the intercepts and asymptotes of the exponential function g(x) = 5(1/5) x – 5

Solution:
a. x-intercept
g(x) = 5(1/5)x – 5 is in the form of g(x) = kax + c where: k = 5 a = 1/5 c = -5
since k and c have opposite signs solve for x – intercept where y = 0 and x = ?

The equation (1/5)x = 1 when x = 0. Thus, x = 0

when g(x) = 0 . Therefore, the x-intercept is (0,0).

5-x = 50
-x = 0
x=0
b. y-intercept
The function in the form f(x) = ka x + c is (0, k + c). The y – intercept of g(x) is (0,0).
This can be shown:
y=? x=0

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 c. Asymptote
 Since the exponential function is the set of real numbers, it has no vertical asymptote.
 The horizontal asymptote of the function in the form of f(x) = ka x + c is y = c. Therefore
y = -5.
d. Graph
The graph of g(x) is basically the same as
the graph of f(x) shifted 5 units downward.
This is an example of vertical shift and the
shift is downward because c < 0.

C. Domain and Range of Exponential Function

Domain of Exponential Function
The domain of an exponential function is always the set of real numbers. This is
because no matter what number you substitute to x, you will always be able to evaluate the
function and yield a value.
Range of Exponential Function
In exponential function in the form of f(x) = kax + c or y = kax+ c, where, k is the numerical
coefficient, a is the base, x is an exponent and c is the constant value. The range of an
exponential function can also be described using a general rule.
 If k is positive, then the range is y > c is because the points of the graph will appear
above the asymptote.
 If k is negative, then the range is y < c because the points of the graph will appear below
the asymptote.

Example 6: Find the domain and range of the following:

a. f(x) = 3(8/9)x
There is no restriction, so the domain is the set of real numbers
Since k (k = 3) positive is greater than 0 ( k > 0) the range of f(x) is y > 0.

b.
There is no restriction, so the domain is the set of real numbers
Since k is negative (k < 0), the range is y < 0

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 D. Real-World Problems

Example 6: The velocity of a skydiver who jumps from a height can be modelled by the
function v(t) = 80(1 – e - 0.2t) where is the velocity measured in feet per second, and is the
time measured in seconds. Find the initial velocity and the terminal velocity of the skydiver.
The terminal velocity of an object is the maximum velocity or the limit of the velocity of a
falling object that experiences air resistance.

Solution:
The function is in the form f(x) = ka x + c , where k = 80 a = e
v(t) = 80(1 – e-0.2t)
v(t) = 80 – 80e-0.2t
v(t) = -80-0.2t + 80
Since e is an irrational number, x = -0.2t and c = 80

To find the velocity, find v(t) when t = 0, By substituting 0 and t, we have

v(0) = -80e-0.2(0) + 80
v(0) = -80e0 + 80
v(0) = -80(1) + 80
v(0) = -80 +80
v(0) = 0

Thus, the initial velocity of the skydiver is 0 meters per second. This means that the skydiver
starts from rest.

Finding horizontal asymptote is to find the maximum velocity or terminal velocity. Finding the
horizontal asymptote in the form f(x) = ka x + c is y = c.

Thus, the function has a horizontal asymptote at y = 80. This means that the skydiver’s
terminal velocity is 80 meters per second.

Let’s Apply

I. Find the domain and range of the following functions.

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 II. Without graphing, find the x and y – intercepts, vertical and horizontal
asymptote.

Let’s Analyze

1. Find the intercepts, asymptotes, domain, and range of the exponential function
f(x) = (1/2)x - 3 . Sketch the graph of the function.

2. A town’s population is modeled by the function P(t) = 20(1.15) t where P is in

thousands, and t is the time in years from now. Find the intercepts, asymptotes,
domain and range of this function, and sketch its graph.

Let’s Evaluate

I. Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer:

1. When can be an exponential function in the form f(x) = kax has no x-intercepts?
a. k > 0 b. k < 0 c. k≠ 0 d. k = 0
2. What is x – intercept of an exponential function f(x) = 3(2) – 3
x

a. 0 b. -1 c. -3 d. none
3. What is the y-intercept of f(x) = 5 (1/2)x?
a. 5 b. 4 c. ½ d. 0
4. What is the domain of f(x) = 3 x – 2?
a. {x/x > 2} b. {x/x > 0} c. {x/x = 3} d. all real numbers
x
5. What is the range of f(x) = (1/2) + 5?
a. {y/y> 1/2) b. {y/y > 5} c. {y/y< -2} d. all real numbers

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II. Direction: Given the function, complete the table of values. Then graph.

1. f(x) = 3x – 2 + 4

x f(x)
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
2. g(x) = 2x+ 1+ 3

x f(x)
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4

Let’s Create

1. Directions: Given the following functions, sketch the graph in one Cartesian
plane and describe it. Use graphing paper.
1. a. g(x) = 8x – 4 b. f(x) = 8x – 1 – 4

2. a. f(x) = 2x b. g(x) = -2X

3. f(x) = 2x b. g(x) = 2 x + 4 c. p(x) = 2x - 1

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