EXPONENTIAL AND

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
The Covid-19 Pandemic especially the behaviour
of the transmission of this disease from a person
to another person is some what related to
exponential function.
Notice that the second number is obtained by multiplying the first number by 2, the third
is obtained by multiplying the second number by 2 and so on.
“2”is called the common ratio.
To express this as a function, we have f(x)= 2x or y= 2x
Definition: An exponential function with base b is a function of the form
f(x)= bx or y= bx (b>0, b≠ 1).
Example 1.Complete the table of values for x= -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3 for the
exponential functions y=(1/3)x , y=10x ,and y=(0.8)x .
Solution:
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

y=(1/3)x 27 9 3 1 1/3 1/9 1/27

y=10x 1/1000 1/100 1/10 1 10 100 1000

y=(0.8)x 1.953125 1.5625 1.25 1 0.8 0.64 0.512

Example 2. If f(x)= 3x , evaluate f(2), f(-2), f(1/2), f(0.4), and f(π).
Solution:
f(2)=32=9
f(-2)=1/9
f(1/2)=31/2=√3
f(0.4)=30.4=5√9
Since π = 3.14159… is irrational, the rules for rational exponents
are not applicable. We define 3π using rational number: f(π)=3π can
be approximated by 33.14 . A better approximation is 33.14159 . Intuitively,
one can obtain any level of accuracy for 3π by considering sufficiently
more decimal places of π. Mathematically, it can be proved that
these approximations approach a unique value, which we define to
be 3π .
Exponential Models Representing Real-life Situations.

Example 3. At t=0, there were initially 20 bacteria. Suppose that the bacteria
doubles every 100 hours. Give an exponential model for the bacteria as a function
of t.
Solution:
Initially, at t=0 Number of bacteria=20
t=100 Number of bacteria =20(2)
t=200 Number of bacteria =20 (2)2
t=300 Number of bacteria= 20(2)3
t=400 Number of bacteria= 20 (2)4
An exponential model for this situation is y=20(2)t/T
Population growth
Suppose a quantity y doubles every T units of time. If y0 is the initial amount, then the quantity y after t
units of time is given by y= =20(2)t/T .

Example 4. Suppose that half-life of a certain radioactive substance is 10 days and there are 10g initially,
determine the amount of substance remaining after 30 days, and give an exponential model for the
amount of remaining substance.
Solution: We use the fact that the mass is halved every 10 days (from definition of half-life)
Let t=time in days, thus, we have:
Initially, at t=0 amount of substance= 10g
t=10days =5g
t=20 days =2.5g
t=30 days =1.25g
An exponential model for this situation is y=10(1/2)t/10
Exponential function and half-life
If the half-life of a substance is T units, and y0 is the amount of the substance corresponding to t=0,
then the amount y of substance remaining after t-units of time is given by y=10(1/2)t/T .
Example 5. Compound Interest
If a principal P is invested at an annual rate of r, compounded annually,
then the amount after t years is given by A= P(1+r)t .
The natural exponential function
While an exponential function may have various bases, a frequently used
based is the irrational number e, whose value is approximately 2.71828.
Because e is a commonly used base, the natural exponential function is
defined having e as the base.
Definition:
The natural exponential function is the function f(x)= ex .
Exponential Equations and Inequalities
One-to-one property of Exponential Functions
If x1≠ x2 , then bx1 ≠ bx2 . Conversely, if bx1 =bx2 then x1= x2 .
Example.
Solve the equation 4x-1 = 16
Property of Exponential Inequalities
if b> 1, then the exponential function y=bx is increasing for all x. this means that bx < by if and
only if x<y.
If 0<b<1, then the exponential function y= bx is decreasing for all x. this means that bx >by
if and only if x<y.
Example.
Solve the inequality 3x < 9x-2 .
Solution. Both 9 and 3 can be written using 3 as the base.
3x < (32)x-2
Solution. Both 9 and 3 can be written
using 3 as the base.
3x < (32)x-2
The Graph of Exponential Functions
1. The graph of f(x)=2x

It can be observed that the function is

defined for all values of x, is strictly
increasing and attains only positive y-
values. As x decreases without bound,
the function approaches 0, the line y=0
is a horizontal asymptote. If and only if
b>1.
The Graph of Exponential Functions
The graph of f(x)=(1/2)x

It can be observed that the function is

defined for all values of x, is strictly
decreasing and attains only positive y-
values. As x increases without bound,
the function approaches 0, the line y=0
is a horizontal asymptote. If and only if
0<b<1.
GRAPHING TRANSFORMATIONS OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Reflection
y=2x y=2x The graph of y=-f(x) is
y=2-x the reflection about
the x-axis of the graph
of y=f(x).
The graph of y=f(-x) is
the reflection about
y=-2x
the y-axis of the graph
of y=f(x).
2. Use the graph of f(x)=2x to graph the functions f(x)=3(2x ) and
f(x)=0.4(2x).
Solution:
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x)=2x 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8
f(x)=3(2x ) 0.375 0.75 1.5 3 6 12 24
f(x)=0.4(2x). 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.6 3.2
 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x)=2x 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8
f(x)=3(2x ) 0.375 0.75 1.5 3 6 12 24
f(x)=0.4(2x). 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.6 3.2

f(x)=2x Observations:
f(x)=3(2x ) 1. The domain for all three graphs is the set
f(x)=0.4(2x ) of all real numbers.
2. The y-intercepts were also multiplied
correspondingly. The y-intercept of
f(x)=3(2x) is 3 and 0.4 for f(x)=0.4(2x).
3. All the graphs have the same horizontal
asymptote: y=0
4. The range of all three graphs is the set of
all y>0.
f(x)=3(2x )
Vertical Stretching or Shrinking
f(x)=2x
Let c be a positive constant. The
graph of y=cf(x) can be obtained
f(x)=0.4(2x ) from the graph of y=f(x) by
multiplying each y-coordinate by
c. the effect is a vertical
stretching (if c>1) or shrinking (if
<1) of the graph of y=f(x).
3. Use the graph of f(x)=2x to graph the functions f(x)=2x -3
and f(x)=2x +1.
Solution: Some y-values are shown on the table

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x)=2x 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8
f(x)=2x -3 -2.875 -2.75 -2.5 -2 -1 1 5
f(x)=2x +1 1.125 1.25 1.5 2 3 5 9
Observations:
1. The domain for all three graphs is
the set of all real number.
2. The y-intercepts and horizontal
asymptotes were also vertically
translated from the y-intercept
and horizontal asymptote of f(x)=
2x f(x)=2x +1
3. The horizontal asymptote of f(x)= f(x)=2x
2x is y=0. Shift this 1 unit up to get 1 unit up
the horizontal asymptote of f(x)=
2x +1 which is y=1, and 3 units 3 units down
down to get the HA of f(x)= 2x -3
which is y=-3.
4. The range of f(x)= 2x +1 is all y>1, f(x)=2x -3
and range of f(x)= 2x -3 is all y>-3
Vertical Shifts
Let k be a real number. The
graph of y=f(x)+k is a vertical
shift of k units up (if k>0) or
k units down (if<0) of the
graph of y=f(x).
f(x)=2x +1
f(x)=2x
1 unit up

3 units down

f(x)=2x -3
4. Use the graph of f(x)=2x to graph the functions f(x)=2x-2 and f(x)=2x+4.
Solution: Some y- values are shown on the table.
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x)=2x 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2 4 8
f(x)=2x-2 0.031 0.063 0.125 0.25 0.5 1 2
f(x)=2x+4 2 4 8 16 32 64 128
4. Use the graph of f(x)=2x to graph the functions f(x)=2x-2 and f(x)=2x+4.
Solution: Some y- values are shown on the table.

Observations:
f(x)=2x
1. The domain for all three graphs is the
set of all real numbers.
2. The y-intercepts changed. To find
them, substitute x=0 in the function.
Thus, the y-intercept of f(x)=2x+4 is 24
=16 and the y-int. of f(x)= f(x)=2x-2 is
f(x)=2x+4 2-2 =0.25.
3. The horizontal asymptotes of all
f(x)=2x-2 three graphs are the same (y=0).
Translating a graph horizontally does
not change the horizontal asymptote.
4. The range of all three graphs is the
set of all y>0.
4. Use the graph of f(x)=2x to graph the functions f(x)=2x-2 and f(x)=2x+4.
Solution: Some y- values are shown on the table.

f(x)=2x

Horizontal Shifts
Let k be real number. The
graph of y=f(x-k) is a
horizontal shift of k units to
f(x)=2x-2
f(x)=2x+4 the left (if k>0) or k units to
the right (if k<0) of the graph
of y=f(x)
Exercises:
1. Sketch the graph of f(x)=3x+1 -2. Then state the domain, range, y-
intercept, and horizontal asymptote.
f(x)=3x

f(x)=3x+1 -2
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION
Consider the exponential function in the form y=b x . If we get the inverse
of this function, we just interchange x and y and now become x=by . But
remember that x will always be the input/independent variable and y is
the output/dependent variable. Hence, y is the power to which b must be
raised to obtain x.
To express this in a more compact form, the function in the
form y= Logbx is introduced. This is read as “y is equal to the
logarithm of x to the base b.
In both exponential and logarithmic functions, b is always
the base.
• In the logarithmic form logbx, x cannot be negative.
• The value of logbx can be negative.

• The common logarithms are those with base 10; logx is a

short notation of log10x.
• The natural logarithms are logarithms to the base e
(approximately 2.17828), and are denoted by “ln”. In other
word, lnx is way of writing logex.
Example 1. Rewrite the following exponential equations in logarithmic
form, whenever possible.
a. 53 =125
b. 7-2 =1/49
c. 102 =100
d. (2/3)2 =4/9
e. (0.1)-4 =1000
f. 40 =1
g. e2 =x
h. (-2)2 =4
• Some of the most application in real-life of logarithms are the Richter
scale, sound intensity, and pH level.
Basic Properties of Logarithms
1.logb1 =0
2.Logb bx =x
3.If x>0, then blogbx =x
Use the basic properties of logarithm to find the value of the following
logarithmic expressions.
a. log10 b. lne3 c. log464 d. log5(1/25) e. 5log52 f. log1
Basic Properties of Logarithms
1. logb1 =0
2. logb bx =x
3. If x>0, then blogbx =x
Use the basic properties of logarithm to find the value of the following logarithmic expressions.
a. log10 b. lne3 c. log464 d. log5(1/25) e. 5log52 f. log1

Solution.
a. log10 = log10 101 =1 Property 2
b. lne3 =loge e3 =3 property 2
c. log464 =log4 43 =3 Property 2
d. log5(1/25)=log5 5-3 =-3 Property 2
e. 5log52 =2 Property 3
f. log1=0 Property 1
Laws of Logarithm
Let b>0, b≠1 and let n is an element of R, for u>0,
v>0, then
1.logb (uv)= logb u+ logbv -log of a product
2.Logb (u/v) = logb u – logb v -log of a quotient
3.Logb un = nlogb u -log of a power
Laws of Logarithm
Let b>0, b≠1 and let n is an element of R, for u>0, v>0, then
1. logb (uv)= logb u+ logbv
2. Logb (u/v) = logb u – logb v
3. Logb un = nlogb u

Examples.
Use the laws of logarithms to expand each expression.
1.log(ab2 )
Solution.
log(ab2 ) =loga + logb2
=loga + 2logb
Laws of Logarithm
Let b>0, b≠1 and let n is an element of R, for u>0, v>0, then
1. logb (uv)= logb u+ logbv
2. Logb (u/v) = logb u – logb v
3. Logb un = nlogb u

Examples.
Use the laws of logarithms to expand each expression.
2. log3(3/x)3
Solution.
log3(3/x)3 = 3log3 (3/x)
=3(log3 3 - log3 x)
=3(1 - log3 x)
= 3 - 3log3 x
Laws of Logarithm
Let b>0, b≠1 and let n is an element of R, for u>0, v>0, then
1. logb (uv)= logb u+ logbv
2. Logb (u/v) = logb u – logb v
3. Logb un = nlogb u

Examples.
Use the laws of logarithms to condense the expression as a single
logarithm.
3. log2 + log3

Solution:
log2+log3 = log(2.3)
=log6
Laws of Logarithm
Let b>0, b≠1 and let n is an element of R, for u>0, v>0, then
1. logb (uv)= logb u+ logbv
2. Logb (u/v) = logb u – logb v
3. Logb un = nlogb u

Examples.
Use the laws of logarithms to condense the expression as a single
logarithm.
4. 2lnx-lny

Solution:
2lnx- lny=lnx2 –lny
=ln(x2 –y)
=ln(x2 /y)
SOLVING LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES
Property of Logarithmic Equations
If b>1, then the logarithmic function y=logbx is increasing
for all x. If 0<b<1, then the logarithmic function y=logbx is
decreasing for all x. This means that logbU=logbV if and only if
u=v.
Techniques. Some strategies for solving logarithmic equations:
1. Rewriting to exponential form
2. Using logarithmic properties
3. Applying the one-to-one property of the logarithmic function
4. The Zero Factor Property: If ab=0 then a=0 or b=0.
Example 1.
Find the value of x in the equation log4(2x)=log410.
Solution.
log4(2x)=log410
2x=10 -one-to-one property
x=5

Example 2. log3(2x-1)=2
Solution.
log3(2x-1)=2
2x-1=32 -Exponential form
2x-1=9
2x=10
x=5
Example 3.
Logx16=2
Property of Logarithmic Inequalities

If 0<b<1, then X1 < X2 if and only if logbX1 > logbX2.

If b>1, then X1 < X2 if and only if logbX1 < logbX2.
Example. Solve the following logarithmic inequalities.
a. log3 (2x-1) > log3 (x+2)
Solution.
Step1: Ensure that the logarithms are defined.
Then 2x-1 > 0 and x+2 > 0 must be satisfies.
2x-1 > 0 implies x>1/2 and x+2 >0 implies x > -2
To make the logarithms defined, then x > ½. (if x > ½ , then x is surely
greater than -2.)

Step2: Ensure that inequality is satisfied.

Thus, since log3(2x-1) > log3(x+2), then:
2x-1 > x+2
x>3
Hence, the solution is (3, +ꝏ).
The Graph of a Logarithmic Function
• Logarithmic function is the inverse of exponential function.

Example 1. Graph the function y=log2x.

y= 2x x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
y= log2x x 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
y 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
 Example. Graph the function y=log2x.
y= 2x x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
y= log2x x 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8
y 1/16 1/8 1/4 1/2 1 2 4 8

y= 2x • The 2 graphs are symmetric at

line y=x.
• The x-axis is the HA of the
y= x exponential function while the y-
axis is the VA of the log function.
y= log2x • There are no negative y-values in
the exponential function.
• There are no negative x-values in
the log function.
Example 2. Graph the function y=log1/2x.

y= (½)x

y= x

y= log1/2x
T.Y.!
Referenced and copied from:
• Pre-calculus: Mathematics for calculus- 6th edition by Belmont
• General Mathematics: Learners Material (Isued by DepEd)