Exponentials and Logarithms – Test A (35 mins) Fundamentals Challenge Expert

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Subtopics: Exponential functions, y = e , exponential modelling, logarithms, laws of logarithms, solving equations using
logarithms, working with natural logarithms, logarithms and non-linear data
In this test you should give your answers to three significant figures where appropriate

1. Sketch the curve y = e− x − 3, labelling all points where the curve crosses the axes. [3]

2. Evaluate log 2 32 [1]

3. Write log 3 25 − log 3 5 as a single logarithm. [2]

 x5 
4. Write log a  4  in terms of log a x and log a y [3]
y 

5. Solve log 5 x + log 5 10 = 3, giving your answer in its exact form. [3]

3
6. Differentiate y = e 4 x with respect to x. [2]
4

7. The value of a car is modelled by the formula V = 20 − e0.2t where V is the value of the car in
thousands of pounds, and t is its age in years from new.
a) State the value of the car when it is new. [2]
b) Estimate the value of the car when it is 10 years old. [2]
dV
c) Show that = ke0.2t , where k is a constant to be found. [1]
dt
d) Find the rate of change of the value of the car when it is four years old. [3]

Test 14.2a – Exponentials and Logarithms – version 1.1 Page 1 of 2 © ZigZag Education, 2018
8. The curve y = ka x passes through the points (3, 24) and (5, 96) and a > 0.
Find the values of a and k. [5]

9. Find the gradient of the curve y = 5e 7 x − 2 at the point where x = 0.5 [2]

10. Solve ln ( x2 − x − 1) = 0 [3]

11. a) Factorise y 2 − 4 y + 3 [1]

b) Hence solve 22 x − 4 ( 2x ) + 3 = 0, giving your answers in their exact form. [4]

12. A scientist is modelling the radioactive decay of a substance. R is the radioactivity of the substance
in counts per minute, and t is the time in days.
ln R

(0, 4.79)
(5, 2.29)

From looking at the graph, the scientist suggests that the radioactivity of the substance can be
modelled by the equation R = aekt where a and k are constants.
a) Find the equation of the line in terms of a and k. [2]
b) Find the values of a and k to three significant figures. [4]
c) Estimate the radioactivity of the substance after eight days. [2]
TOTAL 45 MARKS

Test 14.2a – Exponentials and Logarithms – version 1.1 Page 2 of 2 © ZigZag Education, 2018