Exponential Functions

Domain, Range,
Graph, Asymptotes
Exponential Functions

DEFINITION:
For each x ∈ ℜ, a > 0 and a ≠ 1,

defines an exponential function.

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal
asymptotes and sketch the graph of the following:

D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y 1/8 1/4 ½ 1 2 4 8

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal
asymptotes and sketch the graph of the following:
2.

D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)

X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y 8 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8

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 Exponential Functions
PROPERTIES of y = ax, a > 0, a  1

1. D = {x / x  }
2. R = {y / y > 0}
3. The horizontal asymptote is y = 0 (the x-axis)
4. The graph passes through (0, 1) and there is no
x-intercept
5. The function is one-to-one
6. For a > 1, if x1< x2 , then y1 < y2
(function is increasing)
7. For 0<a<1, if x1< x2, then y1>y2
(function is decreasing)
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Exponential Functions
Typical Plots of

f(x) = ax when a >1 f(x) = ax when 0 < a < 1

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes
and sketch the graph of the following:

3.

D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y 8 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal
asymptotes and sketch the graph of the following:
4.

D=ℜ
R = {y/ y < 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y -1/8 -1/4 -½ -1 -2 -4 -8

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal
asymptotes and sketch the graph of the following:
5.

D=ℜ
R = {y/ y < 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)
X -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
Y -8 -4 -2 -1 -1/2 -1/4 -1/8

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 Exponential Functions
Consider .

Compared to the graph of f is shifted

h units to the right if h is positive

h units to the left if h is negative
k units upward if k is positive
k units downward if k is negative

The range and asymptote will change correspondingly.

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and
sketch the graph of the following:

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

6.
Compared to , graph is shifted
3 units to the right
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > 0}
h.a.: y = 0 (x-axis)
X 0 1 2 3 4 5 5
Y 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

7. +1
Compared to ,
graph is shifted 1 unit upward
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > 1}
h.a.: y = 1

X 0 1 2 3 4 5 5
Y 1/8 +1 ¼ +1 ½+1 2 3 5 9

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

8.
Compared to , graph is
shifter 2 units to the left
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y < 0}
h.a.: y = 0

X -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1
Y -8 -4 -2 -1 -1/2 -1/4 -1/8
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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

9.
Compared to , graph is shifted
2 units to the left and 1 unit downward
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y > -1}
h.a.: y = - 1

X -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1
Y 8-1 4-1 2-1 0 1/2-1 ¼-1 1/8-1

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

10.
Compared to , graph is shifted
1 unit to the right and 2 units upward
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y < 2}
h.a.: y = 2

X -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Y -1/8 +2 -1/4 +2 -1/2 +2 1 0 -2 6

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 Exponential Functions
Examples: Give the domain, range, horizontal asymptotes and sketch
the graph of the following:

11.
Compared to , graph is shifted
3 unit to the left and 1 unit downward
D=ℜ
R = {y/ y < -1}
h.a.: y = -1

X -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
Y -1/8 -1 -1/4 -1 -1/2 -1 -2 -3 -5 -9

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Natural Exponential Functions

DEFINITION
For each x  ,

defines a natural exponential function,

e ≈ 2.718281828

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Natural Exponential Functions
Typical Plots of y = ex

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