LESSON 14 – SOLVING

EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS &

INEQUALITIES
Objective: At the end of the lesson, the
learner is able to solve exponential
equations and inequalities, and solve
problems involving exponential equations
and inequalities
L
Solve: 4x-1 = 16
x-1 x+3

Solve the equation 125 = 25 .

2
Solve equation 9x = 3x+3
Property of Exponential Inequalities
If b > 1, then the exponential function
x
y = b is increasing for all x. This
x y
means that b < b if and only if x < y.
If 0 < b < 1, then the exponential
x
function y = b is decreasing for all x.
x y
This means that b > b if and only if
x < y.
 Solve inequality 3x < 9x-2

Solve inequality (1/10) x+5

≥ (1/100) 3x
Since the base 3 > 1, then this
inequality is equivalent to
x < 2x – 4 (the direction of the
inequality is retained)
4 < 2x – x
4<x
The solution set to the inequality is
{ x element of R I x > 4 }
Since the base < 1, then this
inequality is equivalent to
x + 5 ≤ 6x (the direction of the
inequality is reversed)
5 ≤ 6x – x
5 ≤ 5x
1≤x
The solution set is {x element R I
x≥1}
Exercises
Solve for:
x 7-x
3 = 81 5 = 125

x x x+1
(4/6) ≥ 36/16 5 > 25
5. At time t = 0, 480 grams of an
isotope with a half life of 30 hours is
present. How much time will have
elapsed when only 15 grams
remain?
The amount of substance after t
t/30 t/30
hours 480 ( ½) 480 ( ½) = 15
Page 91 of the CG for the test
Closure:

What new insights did you learn

from the discussion of the
lesson?