(2.10) Exponential Equations

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Mathematics: analysis and approaches
MAA
EXERCISES [MAA 2.10]

EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS
Compiled by Christos Nikolaidis
A. Practice questions
1. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

Solve the following exponential equations. Express each solution as a single logarithm.
2 x  13 10 x  13
5x  13 e x  13

Solve the following exponential equations
ln A
In the form log a b In the form
ln B
2x  7
7x  2

2 x4  7
e x4  7
10 x 4  7
Page 1
[MAA 2.10] EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

Solve the following exponential equations using the logarithm to the base 3.
3x  7
3x  4  7
32 x  4  7
x 4
3 2
7
34 x  7

(a) Solve the exponential equations
23 x 1  3
e3 x 1  3
103 x 1  3
[6]
(b) Solve the logarithmic equations
log 2 (3 x  1)  3
ln(3 x  1)  3
log(3x  1)  3
[6]
Page 2

(a) Solve the following equations by using the natural logarithm ln( ) . [6]
e x 3  5
2e x3  5
2 x3  5
x 3
(b) Solve the equation 2  5x [4]

(a) 3x1  9 without using logs [2]
(b) 3x1  5 by using (i) log3 ( ) (ii) log( ) (iii) ln( ) [6]
8*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

ln a
Solve the equation 6 x 1  23 x 1 . Express your answer in the form
ln b
METHOD A [Use ln( ) first and then solve for x]
METHOD B [Simplify to the form a  b first and then use ln( ) ; Much quicker!]
x

(a) Solve the quadratic equation y 2  2 y  1  0 [2]
(b) Hence solve the following exponential equations
1 1
(ii) e  2
x
(i) 2 x  2
2x ex
(iii) 4x  2  2x  1  0 (iv) e 2 x  2e x  1  0 [8]
10**. [Maximum mark: 9] [without GDC]

Solve the equations
x ln x  e
x log x  10
x log7 x  7
Page 3
EXPONENTIAL vs LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
11. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

Let f ( x)  e  2 .
x
1
(a) Find f . [3]
1
(b) In the diagram below, sketch the graphs of f and f ; Indicate any intercepts
and asymptotes. [4]
(c) Complete the table [3]
Domain Range
f
1
f
Page 4

Let f ( x)  e x  2 .
1
(a) Find f . [3]
1
and asymptotes. [4]
Domain Range
f
1
f
Page 5

Let f ( x)  e ( x 3)  2
1
(a) Find f . [3]
1
and asymptotes. [4]
Domain Range
f
1
f
Page 6
B. Exam style questions (SHORT)
Solve the equation 3

x1
 15 . Give your answer in the form log a b where a, b  .
Solve the equation 2e

x1
 15 . Give your answer in the form a  ln b where a, b  ℚ .
Solve the equation 2(10

x1
)  15 . Give your answer in the form a  log b , a, b  ℚ .

ln a
Solve the equation 6  3
x x 2
. Give your answer in the form where a, b  .
ln b

x 1 ln a
Solve the equation 6  3x  2 . Give your answer in the form where a, b  .
ln b

Solve the following equations.
(a) ln( x  2)  3 . [3]
(b) 102 x  500 . [3]
Find the exact value of x satisfying the equation 3  5

x x 2
.
ln a
Give your answer in the form where a, b  ℚ .
ln b

2 x 1
Find the exact value of x satisfying the equation (3 )(4
x
)  6 x2 .
ln a
Give your answer in the form where a, b  .
ln b

Let f ( x )  e x . Solve the equation 9 f (3 x )  f ( x )  0 . Express your answer in the form
a ln b , a, b  ℤ .
Solve the exponential equation 4  9  2  8  0

x x
Page 7
Solve the exponential equation e  2e  3e  0.

3x x 2x
x 1 3
Solve 2(5 )  1 , giving the answer in the form a  log 5 b , where a, b  ℤ .
5x

Solve the equation 10(25 x )  3  5 x

x
Solve the equation 2(4 )  4  3.
x
(a) [3]
(b) (i) Solve the equation a x  e 2 x 1 where a  0 , giving x in terms of a .

(ii) For what value of a does the equation have no solution? [3]

2 x2
Solve the exponential equation 3  8  3x 1  9

2 x 3
The solution of 2  2 x 1  3 can be expressed in the form a  log 2 b where a, b  ℤ .
Find the value of a and of b .
( x  3)  pe m 
Solve the equation e  2  e( x 3) (the result in the form ln n  , p, m, nZ)
 e 1 
Solve the equation x

log 2 x
 16

Solve the equation log 2 (2 x  1)  2

Solve the equation ln(e x  2e 2 x )  0

1
Solve the equation e
2x
  2.
x2
Page 8

The common ratio of the terms in a geometric series is 2x.
(a) State the set of values of x for which the sum to infinity of the series exists. [2]
(b) If the first term is 35, find the value of x for which the sum to infinity is 40. [4]
MODELLING PROBLEMS

A group of ten leopards is introduced into a game park. After t years the number of
leopards, N , is modelled by N  10e0.4 t .

(a) How many leopards are there after 2 years? [2]
(b) How long will it take for the number of leopards to reach 100? [2]
(c) How long will it take for the number of leopards to double? [2]
Give your answers to an appropriate degree of accuracy.
37. [Maximum mark: 5] [with / without GDC]

The population p of bacteria at time t is given by p  100e0.05t . Calculate
(a) the value of p when t  0 ; [1]

(b) How long will it take for the size of the population to double? [4]

The mass m kg of a radio-active substance at time t hours is given by m  4e 0.2t .
(a) Write down the initial mass. [1]
(b) The mass is reduced to 1.5 kg. How long does this take? [2]
(c) Find the half-life time of m . [3]

A machine was purchased for $10000. Its value V after t years is given by
V  10000e 0.3t . The machine must be replaced at the end of the year in which its value
drops below $1500. Determine in how many years the machine will need to be
replaced.
40*. [Maximum mark: 6] [with / without GDC]

The area A km2 affected by a forest fire at time t hours is given by A  A0 e kt .
1
When t  5 , the area affected is 1 km2. Given that A0  ,
e
(a) Show that k  0.2 ; [3]
(b) Find the value of t when 100 km2 are affected. [3]
Page 9

A population of bacteria is growing at the rate of 2.3% per minute. How long will it take
for the size of the population to double? Give your answer
ln a
(i) in the form (ii) to the nearest minute.
ln b
42*. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

A sum of $100 is invested.
(a) If the interest is compounded annually at a rate of 5% per year,
(i) write down an expression for the value V of the investment after n years.
(ii) hence, find the value of V after 20 years. [3]
5
(b) If the interest is compounded monthly at a rate of % per month, the total
12
value of the investment exceeds V after m months,
(i) write down an inequality that represents this information;
(ii) hence find the minimum number of m . [3]
C. Exam style questions (LONG)

There were 1420 doctors working in a city on 1 January 1994. After n years the
number of doctors, D , working in the city is given by D  1420  100n .
(a) (i) How many doctors were there working in the city at the start of 2004?
(ii) In what year were there first more than 2000 doctors working in the city? [3]
At the beginning of 1994 the city had a population of 1.2 million. After n years, the
population, P , of the city is given by P  1 200 000 1.025  .

n
(b) (i) Find the population P at the beginning of 2004.

(ii) Calculate the percentage growth in population between 1 January 1994 and
1 January 2004.
(iii) In what year will the population first become greater than 2 million? [7]
(c) (i) What was the average number of people per doctor at the beginning of
1994?
(ii) After how many complete years will the number of people per doctor first
fall below 600? [5]
Page 10

A city is concerned about pollution, and decides to look at the number of people using
taxis. At the end of the year 2000, there were 280 taxis in the city. After n years the
number of taxis, T , in the city is given by
T  280 1.12n .
(a) (i) Find the number of taxis in the city at the end of 2005.
(ii) Find the year in which the number of taxis is double the number of taxis
there were at the end of 2000. [6]
(b) At the end of 2000 there were 25 600 people in the city who used taxis. After n
years the number of people, P , in the city who used taxis is given by
2 560 000
P .
10  90e – 0.1n
(i) Find the value of P at the end of 2005, giving your answer to the nearest
whole number.
(ii) After seven complete years, will the value of P be double its value at the end
of 2000? Justify your answer. [6]
(c) Let R be the ratio of the number of people using taxis in the city to the number of
taxis. The city will reduce the number of taxis if R  70 .
(i) Find the value of R at the end of 2000.
(ii) After how many complete years will the city first reduce the number of taxis? [5]

Initially a tank contains 10 000 litres of liquid. At the time t  0 minutes a tap is opened,
and liquid then flows out of the tank. The volume of liquid, V litres, which remains in the
tank after t minutes is given by
V  10 000(0.933t ) .
(a) Find the value of V after 5 minutes. [1]
(b) Find how long, to the nearest second, it takes for half of the initial amount of liquid
to flow out of the tank. [3]
(c) The tank is regarded as effectively empty when 95% of the liquid has flowed out.
Show that it takes almost three-quarters of an hour for this to happen. [3]
(d) (i) Find the value of 10 000  V when t  0.001 minutes.
(ii) Hence or otherwise, estimate the initial flow rate of the liquid.
Give your answer in litres per minute, correct to two significant figures. [3]
Page 11
SOLUTIONS
Compiled by: Christos Nikolaidis
A. Practice questions
1.
2 x  13 x  log 2 13 10 x  13 x  log13
5x  13 x  log 5 13 e x  13 x  ln13
2.
ln A
In the form log a b In the form
ln B
ln 7
2x  7 x  log 2 7 x
ln 2
ln 2
7x  2 x  log 7 2 x
ln 7
3.
2 x 4  7 x  4  log 2 7  x  log 2 7  4
e x 4  7 x  4  ln 7  x  ln 7  4
10 x4  7 x  4  log 7  x  log 7  4
4.
3x  7 x  log 3 7
3x 4  7 x  log 3 7  4
log 3 7  4
32 x 4  7 x
2
x 4
3 2
7 x  2 log 3 7  4
34 x  7 x  4  log 3 7
5. (a) (b)
log 2 3  1 7
23 x1  3 x log 2 (3 x  1)  3 3 x  1  23  x 
3 3
ln 3  1 e 1
3
e3 x1  3 x ln(3 x  1)  3 3 x  1  e3  x 
3 3
log 3  1 3x  1  10  x  333
3
103 x1  3 x log(3x  1)  3
3
1
6. (a)
e x3  5 x  3  ln 5  x  ln 5  3
5 5
2e x3  5 x  3  ln x  ln  3
2 2
ln 5 ln 5
2 x3  5 x3 x 3
ln 2 ln 2
(b) METHOD A
2 x 3  5 x  ( x  3) ln 2  x ln 5
 x ln 2  3ln 2  x ln 5  3ln 2  x(ln5  ln 2)
3ln 2 ln 8
 x  x
ln 5  ln 2 ln(5 / 2)
METHOD B
x
5x 5 ln 8
2 x  3  5 x  2 x 23  5 x  x
8  8 x 
2 2 ln(5 / 2)
7. (a) 3x1  9  3x1  32  x  3
log 5 ln 5
(b) (i) x  log 3 5  1 (ii) x  1 (iii) x  1
log 3 ln 3
8. METHOD A: Taking lns

6 x 1  23 x 1  ( x  1) ln 6  (3x  1) ln 2
 x ln 6  ln 6  3x ln 2  ln 2
 x(ln 6  3ln 2)  ln 6  ln 2
6 3 ln12
 x ln  ln12  x ln  ln12  x 
2 3
4 3
ln
4
METHOD B:
x
6x 6x  3 ln12
6 x 1  23 x 1   23 x  2  x  12     12  x 
6 8  4 3
ln
4
9. (a) y 2  2 y  1  0  y  1
1
(i) let y  2 x : y   2  y 2  1  2 y  y 2  2 y  1  0  y  1
y
Hence 2  1  x  0
x
(ii), (iii), (iv) Similarly, we obtain the same quadratic, and the final solution is x  0
10.
1
x ln x  e ln x ln x  ln e  (ln x ) 2  1  ln x  1  x  e 1 (i.e. e and )
e
1
x log x  10 log x log x  log10  (log x ) 2  1  log x  1  x  10 1 (i.e. 10 and )
10
1
x log7 x  7 log 7 x log7 x  1  (log 7 x) 2  1  log 7 x  1  x  7 1 (i.e. 7 and )
7
2
EXPONENTIAL vs LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
1
11. (a) f ( x)  ln( x  2)
(b) For f , x-intercept: x  ln 2 , y-intercept: y  1 , Horizontal asymptote: y  2
1
For f , x-intercept: x  1 , y-intercept: y  ln 2 , Vertical asymptote: x  2
(c)
Domain Range
f xR y  2
f 1
x  2 yR
1
12. (a) f ( x)  ln x  2
(b) For f , there is no x-intercept, y-intercept: y  e 2 , Horizontal asymptote: y  0
For f 1 , x-intercept: x  e 2 , there is no y-intercept, Vertical asymptote: x  0
(c)
Domain Range
f xR y0
f 1
x0 yR
1
13. (a) f ( x)  ln( x  2)  3
(b) For f , y-intercept: (0, e 3  2) , Horizontal asymptote: y  2
For f 1 , x-intercept: (e 3  2,0) , Vertical asymptote: x  2
(c)
Domain Range
f xR y2
f 1
x2 yR
B. Exam style questions (SHORT)
14. METHOD A:
x 1 ln15
3x 1  15  ln 3  ln15  x  1 
ln 3
ln 3  ln 5 ln 5
 x 1  x 
ln 3 ln 3
METHOD B:
ln 5
3x1  15  3x  3  15  3x  5  x 
ln 3
15 15 15
15. 2e x 1  15  e x 1   x  1  ln  x  1  ln
2 2 2
15 15 15
16. 2(10 x 1 )  15  10 x 1   x  1  log  x  1  log
2 2 2
6x ln 9
17. 6 x  3x  2  6 x  3x 32  x
 9  2x  9  x 
3 ln 2
6x 6x ln 54
18. 6 x 1  3x  2   3x32  x  54  2 x  54  x 
6 3 ln 2
3
19. (a) x + 2 = e3  x = e3  2
1  log 500 
(b) 2x = log10 500 x= log10 500    1.35 
2  log 100 
x
3 ln 25
20. 3x  5 x  2  3x  5 x 52     25  x 
5 3
ln
5
21. Taking logs,
xln3 + (2x + 1)ln4 = (x + 2)ln6

x(ln3 + 21n4 – ln6) = 21n6 – ln4
2 ln 6 – ln 4 ln 9
x=  (or a = 9, b = 8)
ln 3  2 ln 4 – ln 6  ln 8
OR
x
2 x 1 x2  3  42  6 2
(3 )(4 )  6  3 4 4  6 6  
x x 2x
 
x 2
 6  4
ln 9
 8x  9  x 
ln 8
22. 9e3x–ex = 0  9e3x = ex  9e2x =1
1 1
 e2x=  2x = ln
9 9
 x = –ln 3 (a = –1, b = 3)
23. Let y  2 x . y 2  9 y  8  0  y  1, y  8
2x  1  x  0
2x  8  x  3
24. Let y  e x .
EITHER divide by e x and obtain
e2 x  2  3e x  0 ,
hence y 2  3 y  2  0
OR
y 3  2 y  3 y 2  0  y ( y 2  3 y  2)  0
 y 2  3 y  2  0 or y  0 (rejected)
In any case,
y 2  3 y  2  0  y  1 or y  2
Therefore,
ex  1  x  0
e x  2  x  ln 2
4
3
25. 2(5x+1) = 1 +
5x
3
10(5x) = 1 + x
5
Let y  5 .
x
3
10 y  1   10 y 2  y  3  10 y 2  y  3  0
y
1  11 1 12 3
Δ = 121, y  , y   (rejected) or y  
20 2 20 5
Hence
3 3
5x   x  log 5  log 5 3  1 (i.e x  1  log 5 3 )
5 5
26. Let y  5x .
10 y 2  3  y  10 y 2  y  3  0
Solution as above (question 25)
27. (a) Let y  4 x
(b) (i)
(ii) When ln a  2  a  e2
28. EITHER Let y  3x ,
1
9 y 2  24 y  9  3 y 2  8 y  3  0  y  3, y 
3
1
3x   x  1
3
OR Let y  3x 1
y 2  8 y  9  y 2  8 y  9  0  y  1, y  9
3x 1  1  x  1
5
29. EITHER Let y  2 x ,
3 1
8 y2  2 y  3  8 y2  2 y  3  0  y  , y  
4 2
3 3
2   x  log 2  x  2  log 2 3
x
4 4
OR Let y  2 x 1
3
2 y 2  y  3  2 y 2  y  3  0  y  1, y 
2
3 3
2 x 1   x  1  log 2  x  2  log 2 3
2 2
ex
30.  2  e x e3
e3
Let y  e x
y 2e3
 2  ye 3
 y  2e 3
 ye 6
 2e 3
 y (e 6
 1)  y 
e3 e6  1
3
 2e 3
e x  2e  x  ln 6 
e 1  e 1
6
31. x log 2 x  16  log 2 x log 2 x  log 2 16  (log 2 x )(log 2 x )  4  (log 2 x ) 2  4

log 2 x  2  x  22
1
x  4, x 
4
ln 5
32. log 2 (2 x  1)  2  2 x  1  4  2 x  5  x  log 2 5 (or x  )
ln 2
33. ln(e x  2e 2 x )  0  e x  2e2 x  1  2e2 x  e x  1  0
1 1
e x  1 (rejected) or e x   x  ln (   ln 2)
2 2
34. EITHER
OR directly x  0.440 or x  2.50
35. (a) 0 < 2x < 1 so x < 0

35
(b)  40  40  40  r =35 40  r =  5
1 r
1
 r = 2x =  x = 3
8
6
MODELLING PROBLEMS
36. (a) At t = 2, N = 10e0.4(2) = 22.3 (3 sf)

Number of leopards = 22
(b) If N = 100, then solve 100 = 10e0.4t
ln 10
t= ~ 5.76 years (3 sf)
0.4
ln 2
(c) N=0 t ( = 1.73 years)
0.4
37. (a) p  100e0  100
(b) 200 = 100e0.05t,  2 = e0.05t  ln2 = 0.05t

t = ln2/ 0.05
38. (a) Initial mass  t = 0, mass = 4

(b) 1.5 = 4e–0.2t  ln 0.375 = –0.2t  t = 4.90 hours
ln 0.5
(c) When m = 2 (half of the initial value) t  ( = 3.47 years)
 0 .2
39. 10 000e 0.3t = 1500

ln 0.15
 0.3t ln e = ln 0.15  t  )
 0.3
t = 6.32 7 (years)
40. (a) 1 = (1/e)e5k , so e = e5k so 5k=1

k = 0.2
1 0.2t
(b) 100 = e
e
ln 100  1
t  28.0
0.2
41. P  P0 (1  0.023)t  P0 (1.023)t
ln 2
2 P0  P0 (1.023)t  2  (1.023)t  t   30.48...  30 minutes
ln1.023
42. (a) V  100(1  0.05) 20  $265 (or $265.33)
7
C. Exam style questions (LONG)
43. (a) (i) 2420

(ii) 1420 + 100n > 2000
n > 5.8
1999 (accept 6th year or n = 6)
(b) (i) 1 200 000(1.025)10 = 1 536 101
(accept 1 540 000 or 1.54(million))
1 536 101  1 200 000
(ii) × 100
1200 000
28.0% (accept 28.3% from 1 540 000)
(iii) 1 200 000(1.025)n > 2 000 000 (accept an equation)
 n > 20.69
2014 (accept 21st year or n = 21)
1 200 000
(c) (i) = 845
1420
1 200 000(1.025) n
(ii) < 600  n > 14.197
1420  100 n
15 years
44. (a) (i) n=5

T = 280  1.125 = 493
(ii) 280  1.12n = 560  1.12n = 2
n = 6.116...
in the year 2007
2560000
(b) (i) P = 39 635.993... = 39 636
10  90 e 0.15 
2560000
(ii) P = 46 806.997... not doubled (P < 51200)
10  90 e 0.17 
25600
(c) (i) . OR , 91.4 , OR 640 : 7
280
(ii) value 9.31.... after 10 years
45. (a) V(5) = 10000 × (0.9335) = 7069.8 … = 7070 (3 sf)

ln (0.5)
(b) 5000 =10000 × (0.933)t  0.5 = 0.933t  t =or = 9.9949
ln (0.933)
After 10 minutes 0 seconds, to nearest second (or 600 seconds).
(c) 0.05 = 0.933t  t = 43.197 minutes  3/4 hour
(d) (i) 10000 – 10000(0.933)0.001 = 0.693
0.693
(ii) Initial flow rate = = 693 = 690 (2 sf)
0.001
OR
dV
Later on, we may use derivatives to find this rate: = 690 (when t = 0)
dt

(2.10) Exponential Equations

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(2.10) Exponential Equations

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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Mathematics: analysis and approaches

EXERCISES [MAA 2.10]

1. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

2. [Maximum mark: 4] [without GDC]

3. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

4. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

5. [Maximum mark: 12] [without GDC]

6. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

7. [Maximum mark: 8] [without GDC]

8*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

9*. [Maximum mark: 10] [without GDC]

10**. [Maximum mark: 9] [without GDC]

EXPONENTIAL vs LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

11. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

12. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

13. [Maximum mark: 10] [with GDC]

B. Exam style questions (SHORT)

14. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Solve the equation 3

15. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Solve the equation 2e

16. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Solve the equation 2(10

17. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

18. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

19. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

(b) 102 x  500 . [3]

20. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Find the exact value of x satisfying the equation 3  5

21*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

22*. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

23*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Solve the exponential equation 4  9  2  8  0

24**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

Solve the exponential equation e  2e  3e  0.

25*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

26*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

27**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

(b) (i) Solve the equation a x  e 2 x 1 where a  0 , giving x in terms of a .

28**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

29**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

30**. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

31**. [Maximum mark: 5] [without GDC]

Solve the equation x

32*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

33**. [Maximum mark: 7] [without GDC]

34. [Maximum mark: 4] [with GDC]

35*. [Maximum mark: 6] [without GDC]

36. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

leopards, N , is modelled by N  10e0.4 t .

37. [Maximum mark: 5] [with / without GDC]

(a) the value of p when t  0 ; [1]

38. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

39. [Maximum mark: 5] [with GDC]

40*. [Maximum mark: 6] [with / without GDC]

41. [Maximum mark: 5] [with GDC]

42*. [Maximum mark: 6] [with GDC]

C. Exam style questions (LONG)

43. [Maximum mark: 15] [with GDC]

population, P , of the city is given by P  1 200 000 1.025  .

(b) (i) Find the population P at the beginning of 2004.

44*. [Maximum mark: 17] [with GDC]