Daniel B. Peña Memorial College Foundation, Inc.

Ziga Avenue, San Juan, Tabaco City

S. Y. 2022-2023

GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Topic: Exponential Functions

Prepared by: Engr. Diana R. Buendia

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
For this lesson, your goals are the following:
1. Represent real-life situations using exponential functions
2. Distinguish between exponential function, exponential equation, exponential equation, and exponential
inequality
3. Solve exponential equations and inequality

EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

If 𝑎 is any number such that 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑎 ≠ 1 then an exponential function is a function in the form,
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑥 where 𝑎 is called the base and 𝑥 can be any real number.

The graph of an exponential function depends on the value of a.

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

PROPERTIES OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. The domain is the set of all real numbers: 𝐷 = {𝑥/𝑥 ∈ 𝑅}
2. The range is the set of positive numbers (This means that 𝑎 𝑥 is always positive, that is
𝑎 𝑥 > 0 for all x. The equation 𝑎 𝑥 = negative number has no solution)
3. There are no x-intercepts
4. The y-intercept is (0, 1)
5. The x-axis (line y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote
6. An exponential function is increasing when a > 1 and decreasing when 0 < a < 1
7. An exponential function is one to one, and therefore has the inverse. The inverse of the
exponential
function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑥 is a logarithmic function 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 (𝑥)
8. Since an exponential function is one to one we have the following property:
If 𝑎 𝑢 = 𝑎𝑣 , then 𝑢 = 𝑣. (This property is used when solving exponential equations that
could be rewritten in the form 𝑎𝑢 = 𝑎𝑣 )

EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

An exponential equation is an equation involving exponential expression that can be solved for all x values
satisfying the equation. For instance, 121 = 11𝑥 and 3𝑥 = 9𝑥−2 .

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

EXPONENTIAL INEQUALITIES

An exponential inequality is an inequality involving exponential Expression that can be solved for all x
1
values satisfying the inequality. For example, 643 > 2𝑥 and 0.9𝑥 ≤ 0.81.

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

LESSON 2: SOLVING EXPONENTIAL

EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Quotient with Same Bases

Product With the Same Bases
As per this rule,
As per this law, for any non-zero term a,
• am/an = am-n
• (a )( a ) = a
m n m+n
where a is a non-zero term and m and n are integers.
where m and n are real numbers. Example 3: Find the value when 10-5 is divided by
Example 1: Simplify 55 × 51 ? 10-3.
Solution: As per the question;
Solution: 55 × 51 = 55+1 = 56
10-5/10-3
Example 2: Simplify (−6)-4 × (−6)-7? = 10-5-(-)3
Solution: (−6)-4 × (−6)-7 = (-6)-4-7 = (-6)-11 = 10-5+3
= 10-2
= 1/100

Power Raised to a Power

Product to a Power
According to this law, if ‘a’ is the base, then the
power raised to the power of base ‘a’ gives the As per this rule, for two or more different bases, if
product of the powers raised to the base ‘a’, the power is same, then;
such as;
• an bn = (ab)n
• (am)n = amn where a is a non-zero term and n is the integer.
where a is a non-zero term and m and n are
Example 5: Simplify and write the exponential
integers.
form of: 1/8 x 5-3
Example 4: Express 83 as a power with base
Solution: We can write, 1/8 = 2 -3
2.
Therefore, 2-3 x 5-3 = (2 × 5)-3 = 10-3
Solution: We have, 2×2×2 = 8 = 23
Therefore, 83= (23)3 = 29

Quotient to a Power Zero Power

As per this law, the fraction of two different bases
with the same power is represented as;
• an/bn = (a/b)n
where a and b are non-zero terms and n is an
integer.
According to this rule, when the power of any
integer is zero, then its value is equal to 1, such
as;
a0 = 1
where ‘a’ is any non-zero term.

Example 6: Simplify the expression and find the Example 7: What is the value of 50 + 22 + 40 +
value:153/53 71 – 31 ?

Solution: We can write the given expression as; Solution: 50 + 22 + 40 + 71 – 31 = 1+4+1+7-3= 10

(15/5)3= 33 = 27

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Negative Exponent Rule Fractional Exponent Rule

According to this rule, if the exponent is negative, we The fractional exponent rule is used, if the exponent is
can change the exponent into positive by writing the in the fractional form. The fractional exponent rule is
same value in the denominator and the numerator given by:
holds the value 1. 1
𝑛
𝑎 𝑛 = √𝑎
The negative exponent rule is given as:
Here, a is called the base, and 1/n is the exponent,
a-m = 1/am
which is in the fractional form. Thus, a 1/n is said to be the
Example 8: nth root of a.
Find the value of 2-2 Example 9:
Solution: Simplify: 41/2
Here, the exponent is a negative value (i.e., -2) Solution:
Thus, 2-2 can be written as 1/22 Here, the exponent is in fractional form. (i.e., ½)
2-2 = 1/22 According to the fractional exponent rule, 41/2 can be
written as √4
2-2 = 1/4
(i.e.,) 41/2 = √4
In other words, we can say that, if “a” is a non-zero
number or non-zero rational number, we can say that 41/2 = 2 (As, the square root of 4 is 2)
a-m is the reciprocal of am
Hence, the simplified form of 41/2 is 2.

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

CASE 1. THE BASES OF BOTH EXPONENTIALS ARE THE SAME

EXAMPLE 2.1:
Solve the equation: 53𝑥 = 57𝑥−2
Solution: since both sides of the equation have the same base which is 5, then
3𝑥 = 7𝑥 − 2
7𝑥 – 3𝑥 = 2
4𝑥 = 2
1
𝑥 = 2
(you may verify your answer by substituting to all x-values in the given equation )

EXAMPLE 2.2:
Solve the equation: 3𝑧 = 9𝑧+5
Solution: in this case we don’t have the same base so we can’t just set exponents equal. However, with a little
manipulation of the right side we can get the same base on both exponents,
3𝑧 = 32(𝑧+5)
𝑧 = 2 (𝑧 + 5)
𝑧 = 2𝑧 + 10
2𝑧 − 𝑧 = −10
Answer: 𝑧 = −10

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS
EXAMPLE 2.3:
1
Solve the equation: 45−9𝑥 = 8𝑥−2

Solution: rewrite the equation such that both sides have the same base
1
22(5−9𝑥) = 23(𝑥−2)

Simplify the right side of the equation by applying the negative exponent rule
22(5−9𝑥) = 2−3(𝑥−2)
Solve for x
2(5 − 9𝑥) = −3(𝑥 − 2)
10 − 18𝑥 = −3𝑥 + 6
−18𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 6 − 10
−15𝑥 = −4
4
Answer: 𝑥 = 15

CASE 2. THE EXPONENTIALS CANNOT BE EXPRESSED AS EXPRESSIONS WITH THE SAME

BASE

The Exponential and Logarithmic Forms of an Equation

Logarithmic equations can be written as exponential equations and

vice versa. The logarithmic equation 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 (𝑥) = 𝑐 corresponds to the
exponential equation 𝑏𝑐 = 𝑥

Example: the logarithmic equation 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 (16) = 4 corresponds to the

exponential equation 24 = 16.

EXAMPLE 2.4:
Solve 7𝑥 = 9
Solution: Since the expressions cannot be expressed as exponentials with the same base, take the logarithm of both sides –
you may use the natural logarithm or common logarithm:
a. using the natural logarithm, 𝑙𝑛7𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛9
𝑥𝑙𝑛7 = 𝑙𝑛9
𝑥𝑙𝑛7 𝑙𝑛9
Solve for x, =
𝑙𝑛7 𝑙𝑛7

TIP: you have to use a calculator to find the value of x

2.197224577
𝑥 = 1.945910149
= 1.129150068

Answer: 𝑥 = 1.129
b. using the common logarithm,
𝑙𝑜𝑔7𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔9
𝑥𝑙𝑜𝑔7 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔9
𝑙𝑜𝑔 9
𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔7

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS
0.9542425094
𝑥 =
0.84509804
𝑥 = 1.129150068
𝑥 = 1.129

EXAMPLE 2.5:
Solve 24𝑦+1 = 3𝑦
Solution:
24𝑦+1 = 3𝑦
ln24𝑦+1 = ln3𝑦
(4𝑦 + 1)𝑙𝑛2 = 𝑦𝑙𝑛3
(4𝑦 + 1)𝑙𝑛2 = 𝑦𝑙𝑛3
4𝑦𝑙𝑛2 + 𝑙𝑛2 = 𝑦𝑙𝑛3
4𝑦𝑙𝑛2 − 𝑦𝑙𝑛3 = −𝑙𝑛2𝑦
𝑦(4𝑙𝑛2 − 𝑙𝑛3) = −𝑙𝑛2
−𝑙𝑛2
𝑦=
4𝑙𝑛2 − 𝑙𝑛3
−0.6931471806
𝑦=
2.772588722−1.098612289

𝑦 = −0.4140722454
Answer: 𝑦 = −0.414

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL INEQUALITIES

When solving inequalities, take note of the following rules:

EXAMPLE 2.6:
Solve for the values of x in 5𝑥 > 125𝑥+8
Solution: Solve the problem the way you would solve exponential equations, but remember the rules cited above when
solving inequalities,
5𝑥 > 125𝑥+8
5𝑥 > 53(𝑥+8)
𝑥 > 3(𝑥 + 8)
𝑥 > 3𝑥 + 24
−2𝑥 > 24
Answer: 𝑥 < −12

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GENERAL MATHEMATICS
EXAMPLE 2.7:
Solve for x,
1 (2𝑥+9) 1 (𝑥−5)
( ) ≤ (343)
7

Solution:
1 (2𝑥+9) 1 3(𝑥−5)
( ) ≤( )
7 7

2𝑥 + 9 ≤ 3(𝑥 − 5)
2𝑥 + 9 ≤ 3𝑥 − 15
2𝑥 − 3𝑥 ≤ −15 − 9
−𝑥 ≤ −24
Answer: 𝑥 ≤ 24

Solve for x. Express your final answers as a decimal approximation to three places (if applicable). Each item is equivalent to
5 points. Show your complete solutions.

1 𝑥 1
1) 62𝑥 = 61−3𝑥 6) ( ) < ( )
2 8
𝑥2
2) 8 = 83𝑥+10 7) 3𝑥+2 ≥ 27
3) 51−𝑥 = 25
4) 23𝑥 = 10
5) 71−𝑥 = 43𝑥+1

https://www.mathsisfun.com/sets/function-exponential.html
https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/exponent-laws.html
https://byjus.com/maths/laws-of-exponents/
https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/solveexpeqns.aspx
https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Problems/Alg/SolveExpEqns.aspx
https://www.storyofmathematics.com/inequalities-math

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