EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Definition: Exponential Function with Base

If

b>0

and

b1

the function

, then the exponential function with base

is

defined by

f ( x )=b x

The domain of

is the set of real numbers, and the range is

the set of positive real numbers.

Observe the following:

f (x)

1/8

1/4

1/2

f ( x )=2

1
2

()

g (x )=

g(x)

In

1/ 2

1/ 4

general,

 the graph below is a sketch of the graph of an

exponential function with base

b>1
y

The function values

increase as x increases.

 the graph below is a sketch of the graph of an

exponential function with base

0<b <1

The function values

decrease as x increases.

LOGARITHMIC

FUNCTIONS

Consider:

f (x)=2 x
y

Does

f (x)

exist?

Definition: Logarithmic Function with Base

The logarithmic function with base

, denoted by

inverse of the exponential function with base

Examples of Logarithmic Functions:

1.
2.

f ( x )=log 2(x )
g ( x ) =log 3 (x)

Because

y=log b x

or
or

and

f (x)=log 2 x
g(x)=log 3 x

y=b x

are inverse functions,

b;b

log b

, is the

y=log b x

if and only if

x=b y

Furthermore, the domain of the logarithmic function is the set

of positive real numbers and its range is the set of real
numbers.

From the equivalent statement,

y=log b x

if and only if

x=b y

we have the following illustrations:

1.
1
1
1 1
= log =
(
)
2 3
2. 8 2
1
1
5 = log
=2
25
25
3.
4. log 1000=3 10 =1000
5. log 1=0 7 =1
Exercise
A. Find the value of the following logarithms:
1. log 49
2. log 5
1
log
6
3.
4. log 81
32=9 log 3 9=2
1
3

1
8

10

5.

log 10 0.001

B. Find the value of either

1.
2.
3.
4.

log 5 x=2
log 36 x=
log b 4=

1
2

1
3

log b 81=2

or

Notes: From the equivalent statement,

y=log b x

if and only if

we have the following properties:

1.

b log x =x
b

Examples:
a. 3 =7
b. 10 =5
log 3 7

log 10 5

x=b

2.

log b b y = y

Examples:
a. log 2 =5
b. log 10 =3
c. log b =1
d. log b =0
5

10

3.

log b 1=0

4. log b=1
Exercises
A. Solve for either
1
log 6=
3
1.
5
log x=
2
2.
b

1
9

or

3.
4.
5.

log 3 x=

2
3

log b 0.01=2
log b 0.001=

3
2

B. Simplify the following expressions:

1. log (log 5)
2. log (log 81)
3. log (log 32)
4. log ( log 256)
5. log (log 3)

Observe:

f ( x )=log 2 x

0.00000 undefined
0.32000
-1.64386
0.64000
-0.64386
0.96000
-0.05889
1.00000
0.00000
2.00000
1.00000
3.20000
1.67807
3.52000
1.81558
4.00000
2.00000
8.00000
3.00000
16.00000
4.00000

Recall:

g ( x ) =2x

Observe
y

0.00000

undefined

0.20000
0.40000
0.60000
0.80000
1.00000
1.20000
1.40000
2.00000
4.00000
8.00000
16.00000

Recall:

2.32193
1.32193
0.73697
0.32193
0.00000
-0.26303
-0.48543
-1.00000
-2.00000
-3.00000
-4.00000

1
2

()

g (x )=

In
f ( x )=log b x

general,

g ( x ) =b x

b>1

f ( x )=log b x
0<b <1

g ( x ) =b