COLLEGE OF GENERAL EDUCATION

MATH1020
Unit 3
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Graphing Exponential Functions …………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Vertical/Horizontal Translations on Exponential Functions …………………………………………………….5
Exponential Function base e …………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
Logarithmic Functions ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….7
Basic Properties for Logarithms ……………………………………………………………………………………………..9
Evaluating Logarithmic Expressions ……………………………………………………………………………………….9
Graphing Logarithmic Functions ……………………………………………………………………………………………10
Transformations on Logarithmic Functions …………………………………………………………………………..13
Domain of a Logarithm ……………………………………………………………………………………………….………..14
Product, Quotient and Power Properties ………………………………………………………………………………15
Logarithmic Functions in Expanded Form ……………………………………………………………………………..15
Logarithmic Functions as a Single Logarithm ………………………………………………………………………...16
Change of Base Formula ……………………………………………………………………………………………………....16
Order of Operations (Review) ……………………………………………………………………………………………....18
Properties of Logarithms (Review) ………………………………………………………………………………………..18
Solving Exponential Equations ………………………………………………………………………………………….…..19
Solving Logarithmic Equations ………………………………………………………………………………………….…..23
Solve literal equations for a Specified Variable ……………………………………………………………………..27
Create models for Exponential Growth and Decay ………………………………………………………….…...28
Investment Under Continuous Compounding ……………………………………………………………………...30
Unit 3 Review ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34
Unit 3 Review Solutions ………………………………………………………………………………………………....…...42
Page 2 of 43
Exponential Functions

Let 𝑏 be a constant real number such that 𝑏 > 0 and 𝑏 ≠ 1.

Then for any real number 𝑥, a function of the form
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑥
is called an exponential function of base 𝑏.

Formulas from the Law of Exponents

1 𝑎 −𝑛
𝑎−𝑛 = = (𝑏 ) =
𝑎−𝑛

1. Evaluate the following.

1 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 𝑔(𝑥) = (2)

𝑓(0) = 𝑔(0) =

𝑓(1) = 𝑔(1) =

𝑓(2) = 𝑔(2) =

𝑓(3) = 𝑔(3) =

𝑓(−3) = 𝑔(−3) =

1 1
𝑓 (2) = 𝑔 (2) =

Page 3 of 43
Graphing Exponential Functions

1 𝑥
Graph the functions 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = (2) .

1 𝑥
Note that 𝑔(𝑥) = (2) = _________.

That means 𝑔(𝑥) is the same graph of 𝑓(𝑥) with a ____________ across the _______.

Is 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 increasing or decreasing? ________________

1 𝑥
Is 𝑔(𝑥) = (2) increasing or decreasing? ________________

Domain: ________________

Range: ________________

Vertical Asymptotes(s): ________________

Horizontal Asymptotes(s): ________________

𝑥 −intercept: ________________

𝑦 −intercept: ________________

Page 4 of 43
Vertical and Horizontal Translations on Exponential
Functions

2. Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥−2 + 4.

Basic/Parent function
𝑥 𝑦 = 3𝑥

Transformation(s)

Horizontal asymptote

Page 5 of 43
 3. Graph 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥+2 − 1.

Basic/Parent function 𝑥 𝑦=

Transformation(s)

Horizontal asymptote

Exponential Function base 𝒆

The value of the number 𝑒 is irrational (nonterminating, nonrepeating decimal) just like 𝜋.
It is a universal constant.

𝑒 ≈ 2.718281828459 …

Because the base 𝑒 is greater that 1, the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 is an increasing function.

𝒙 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒆𝒙

−3 𝑒 −3 ≈ 0.050

−2 𝑒 −2 ≈ 0.135

−1 𝑒 −1 ≈ 0.368

0 𝑒0 ≈ 1

1 𝑒 1 ≈ 2.718

2 𝑒 2 ≈ 7.389

3 𝑒 3 ≈ 20.086

Page 6 of 43
 4. List the transformation of the graph of ℎ(𝑥) = −𝑒 𝑥−1 .

5. Write down the formula for each of the following functions.

a. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is the same as the graph of 4𝑥 shifted to the right by 1 and
down by 3.

b. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is the same as the graph of 5𝑥 reflected across the 𝑦 −axis.

1 𝑥
c. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) is the same as the graph of (2) reflected across the 𝑥 −axis.

Logarithmic Functions
What are Logarithmic Functions?
They are the inverses of exponential functions.

If 𝑥 and 𝑏 are positive real numbers such that 𝑏 ≠ 1, then 𝑦 = log 𝑏 𝑥 is called the logarithmic
function of base 𝒃.

This means
_______________________ is another way of saying _______________________
Logarithmic Form Exponential Form

Page 7 of 43
The logarithmic function base 𝑏 is defined as the inverse of the exponential function base 𝑏.

Logarithmic Vocabulary

Exponential Logarithmic Name

Function Function
𝑏𝑥

10𝑥

𝑒𝑥

6. Write each of the following equations in exponential/logarithmic form.

Logarithmic Form Exponential Form

log 2 16 = 4
1
log 49 7 =
2
104 = 10,000
1
log10 ( ) = −2
100
1 −1
( ) =5
5
2𝑥 = 10
𝑏1 = 𝑏
𝑏 0 = _____

Page 8 of 43
Basic Properties for Logarithms

1. log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥 Example: log 8 82 = 2

2. 𝑏 log𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑥 Example: 3log3 7 = 7

3. 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦 implies that 𝑥 = 𝑦 Example: 2𝑥 = 2𝑦 implies 𝑥 = 𝑦

Evaluating Logarithmic Expressions

7. Evaluate each expression without the use of a calculator.

1
a. log 10,000 b. log 0.001 c. log 100

8. Evaluate each expression without the use of a calculator.

a. log 4 16 b. log 2 8

c. log 1 8 d. log 4 (64)

1
2

Page 9 of 43
 9. Evaluate each expression without the use of a calculator.
a. ln 𝑒 4 1
b. ln (𝑒)

10. Simplify or evaluate the following expressions without the use of a calculator.

2 +4)
a. log √7 1 b. 5log5(𝑐 c. 10log(𝑎
2 +𝑏 2 )

d. log11 11 e. ln 1 f. log 10

Graph Logarithmic Functions

Since a logarithmic function 𝑦 = log 𝑏 𝑥 is the
inverse of the exponential function 𝑦 = 𝑏 𝑥 ,
their graphs must be symmetric with respect
to the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.

Page 10 of 43
Example: Graph the function 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥.
To find the points on a logarithmic function, we can interchange the 𝑥 − and 𝑦 −
coordinates on the corresponding exponential function.

Is 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥 increasing or decreasing? ________________

Domain: ________________

Range: ________________

Vertical Asymptotes(s): ________________

Horizontal Asymptotes(s): ________________

𝑥 −intercept: ________________

𝑦 −intercept: ________________

Page 11 of 43
11. Graph the function 𝑦 = log 1 𝑥.
4

The corresponding exponential function is __________.

Exponential Function Logarithmic Function

𝒙 𝒚= 𝒙 𝒚 = log 1 𝑥
4

−3

−2

−1

Is 𝑦 = log 1 𝑥 increasing or decreasing?

4

Domain: ________________

Range: ________________

Vertical Asymptotes(s): ________________

Horizontal Asymptotes(s): ________________

𝑥 −intercept: ________________

𝑦 −intercept: ________________

Page 12 of 43
Use Transformations to Graph Logarithmic Functions

12. Graph the function 𝑓(𝑥) = log 2 (𝑥 + 3) − 2. Identify the vertical asymptote and write the
domain in interval notation.

Page 13 of 43
 13. Graph the function 𝑓(𝑥) = log 3 (𝑥 − 4) + 1. Identify the vertical asymptote and write the
domain in interval notation.

Domain of a Logarithmic Function

14. Write the domain of the following functions in interval notation and identify the vertical
asymptote(s).
a. 𝑝(𝑥) = log 2 (2𝑥 + 4) b. 𝑔(𝑥) = ln (5 − 𝑥)

c. ℎ(𝑥) = log (𝑥 2 − 9)

Page 14 of 43
Product, Quotient and Power Properties

Because exponential functions satisfy properties like:

𝑎𝑚
(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚 ∙ 𝑎𝑛 = =
𝑎𝑛

Logarithms satisfy these properties:

Product Property log 𝑏 (𝑥𝑦) =

}
Terms must
have the same
Quotient Property 𝑥
log 𝑏 (𝑦) = base to be
able to
combine them.
Power Property log 𝑏 𝑥 𝑝 =

Write a Logarithmic Function in Expanded Form

15. Expand the expressions using Properties of Logs.

a. log 2 (8𝑥) b. ln(5𝑥𝑦)

𝑥 √𝑥 5
c. log (1000) d. log 5 𝑦

e. log 𝑥 6 f. log (2(𝑥 + 𝑦)3 )

Page 15 of 43
Write a Logarithmic Expression as a Single Logarithm

16. Combine the expressions using Properties of Logs.

a. 𝑥 ln 𝑦 + 2 ln(𝑥 + 8)

1
b. log 2 (𝑥 + 5) + 3 log 2 (𝑥 + 2) − 4 log 2 𝑥

c. 3 log(5) + log(16) − log(20)

Change of Base Formula

A calculator can be used to approximate the value of a logarithm with base 10 or base 𝑒.
However, to use a calculator for any other base, we must use the change of base formula.

Page 16 of 43
17. Use the change of base formula to approximate log 4 153 by using base 10. Round to 4
decimal places.

18. Estimate log 4 153 between two consecutive integers.

19. Use the change of base formula to approximate log 6 23 by using base 𝑒. Round to 2
decimal places.

20. Use the change of base formula to approximate log 3 100 by using base 10. Round to 4
decimal places.

Page 17 of 43
Recall: Order of Operations
The sequence to follow when performing operations in a mathematical equation.

Example: Simplify −2(7 − 5)2 + 1 ∙ 3

Recall: Properties of Logs

Properties of Logs
log 𝑏 1 = 0
log 𝑏 𝑏 = 1
log 𝑏 𝑏 𝑝 = 𝑝 Cancellation Property

𝑏 log𝑏𝑥 = 𝑥 Cancellation Property

log 𝑏 (𝑥𝑦) = log 𝑏 𝑥 + log 𝑏 𝑦 Product Property

𝑥 Quotient Property
log 𝑏 ( ) = log 𝑏 𝑥 − log 𝑏 𝑦
𝑦
log 𝑏 𝑥 𝑝 = p log 𝑏 𝑥 Power Property
𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦 implies that 𝑥 = 𝑦 Equivalence Property

Solving Exponential Equations

Circle which equation below will I use the technique of “solving an exponential equation”?

𝑥 3 = 81 3 32𝑥−6 = 81
= 81
𝑥

Page 18 of 43
For the following problems below, answers must be exact (fractions/roots okay). No decimals.
21. Solve 32𝑥−6 = 81 1 3𝑡+1
22. Solve 254−𝑡 = (5)

23. Solve 7𝑥 = 60. Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate answer rounded to
two decimal places.

Page 19 of 43
24. Solve 105+2𝑥 + 820 = 49,600. Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate
answer rounded to two decimal places.

25. Solve for 𝑡 in the equation 2000 = 18,000𝑒 −0.4𝑡 . Give BOTH an exact answer and an
approximate answer rounded to two decimal places.

Page 20 of 43
26. Solve 42𝑥−7 = 53𝑥+1 . Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate answer.

2 𝑥
27. Solve (3) − 125−𝑥 = 0. Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate answer.

Page 21 of 43
 12+3𝑒 4−5𝑥
28. Solve = 6. Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate answer.
5

10
29. (YOU TRY!) Solve 1+0.5𝑒 0.02𝑡 = 6. Give BOTH an exact answer and an approximate answer.

Page 22 of 43
Solving Logarithmic Equations
30. Solve log 2 (3𝑥 − 4) = log 2 (𝑥 + 2). 31. Solve ln(𝑥 − 4) = ln(𝑥 + 6) − ln 𝑥.

Check answer(s): Check answer(s):

Page 23 of 43
32. Solve 4 log 3 (2𝑡 − 7) = 8. Check for extraneous solutions.

33. Solve log(𝑤 + 47) = 2.6. Check for extraneous solutions. Give BOTH an exact answer
and an approximate answer rounded to two decimal places.

Page 24 of 43
34. Solve ln 20.02𝑥 = 7. Check for extraneous solutions. Give BOTH an exact answer and
an approximate answer rounded to two decimal places.

35. Solve log 4𝑥 = 3. Check for extraneous solutions. Give BOTH an exact answer and an
approximate answer.

Page 25 of 43
36. Solve log 2 𝑥 = 3 − log 2 (𝑥 − 2). Check for extraneous solutions.

37. Solve 3 log(𝑥 + 4) = 6. Check for extraneous solutions.

38. Solve −5 + log 2 (4 − 𝑥)8 = 9. Check for extraneous solutions.

Page 26 of 43
 39. Solve log 6 (𝑥 + 8) − log 6 (𝑥) = log 6 2. Check for extraneous solutions.

Solve literal equations for a Specified Variable

40. Given 𝑃 = 100𝑒 𝑘𝑥 − 100, solve for 𝑥. (Used in geology)

Page 27 of 43
41. Given 𝐿 = 8.8 + 5.1 log 𝐷, solve for 𝐷. (Used in astronomy)

Create models for Exponential Growth and Decay

Exponential Growth Exponential Growth

When a quantity 𝑦 grows exponentially When a quantity 𝑦 decays exponentially

with respect to 𝑥 it means with respect to 𝑥 it means
𝑦 = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑒 𝑘𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑒 𝑘𝑥
where 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑘 > 0. where 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑘 < 0.

Notice, 𝑎 also represent the 𝑦 −intercept.

That means, 𝑎 is the initial value of 𝑦 when 𝑘 = 0.

Page 28 of 43
42. The number of frogs in a wildlife preserve is increasing according to the exponential
model 𝑦 = 35𝑒 0.247𝑥 .
a. How did you know the equation represents an increasing population model?

b. What do 𝑥 and 𝑦 represent in terms of this problem?

c. Use the model to predict the number of frogs after 7 years, rounding to the nearest
frog. (Half a frog would be very sad)

d. How long will it take for the population to reach 1,000 frogs? (Round to the nearest
2 decimal places.)

Page 29 of 43
Investment Under Continuous Compounding

𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 or 𝑃(𝑡) = 𝑃0 𝑒 𝑟𝑡

P (Principal) stands for ____________________________________________________

r (Rate) stands for ________________________________________________________

A (Amount) stands for _____________________________________________________

43. Suppose that $15,000 is invested into a stock. After 3 years, the value of the stock
account was $19,356.92. Use the model 𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 to determine the average return rate
𝑟 under continuous compounding.

Page 30 of 43
44. On January 1, 2010, the population of California was approximately 37.3 million. On
January 1, 2019, the population was 40.0 million. Let 𝑡 = 0 represent the year 2010.

a. Write a function defined by 𝑃(𝑡) = 𝑃0 𝑒𝑟𝑡 to represent the population of California

𝑃(𝑡), in millions, 𝑡 years after 2010.

b. Use the function from part (a) to predict the population in 2025.

c. Use the function from part (a) to determine the year for which the population of
California will be twice that of the year 2010.

Page 31 of 43
Investment with Interest Compounded 𝒏 times per year
𝑟 𝑛𝑡 𝑟 𝑛𝑡
𝐴 = 𝑃 (1 + ) or 𝑃(𝑡) = 𝑃 (1 + )
𝑛 𝑛

P (Principal) stands for ____________________________________________________

r (Rate) stands for ________________________________________________________

A (Amount) stands for _____________________________________________________

𝑛 stands for _____________________________________________________________

Compounding Option 𝒏 value

Annually
Semi-annually
Quarterly
Monthly
Daily
Continuously

45. Suppose that $8,000 is invested into an account, compounded quarterly and it pays

4.5% per year. Approximately, how long does it take the account to reach $10,000?

Page 32 of 43
46. A radioactive substance decays according to the exponential model 𝑦 = 80𝑒 −0.0668𝑥 ,
where 𝑦 is in milligrams and 𝑥 is in years.

a. How much of the substance was there initially?

b. What is the half-life of this substance?

Page 33 of 43
Unit 3 Review

1 𝑥
1. Graph 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = (5) on the

same coordinate axis.

2. Graph 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥+2 − 1.

3. Write each equation in exponential form.

1
a. log 3 9 = 2 b. log10 1,000 = −3 c. log 6 1 = 0

Page 34 of 43
4. Write each equation in logarithmic form.
a. 25 = 32 1 −2
b. (8) = 64

5. Evaluate each expression.

1
a. log 4 (64) b. log(0.1) c. ln(𝑒 9 )

6. Simplify
a. log13 13 b. 𝑎log𝑎 3 c. log 𝜋 1 d. log 10𝑒

7. Graph 𝑦 = log 4 𝑥.

Page 35 of 43
8. Graph 𝑦 = log 1 𝑥.
2

9. Write the domain in interval notation.

a. log 4 (1 − 3𝑥) b. log (2 + 𝑥) c. 𝑚(𝑥) = ln(64 − 𝑥 2 )

10. Write the expression in expanded form (as a sum or difference of logarithms).
𝑎4 𝑏
a. ln ( 𝑐 9 ) 3 25
b. log 5 √(𝑎2+𝑏2)2

Page 36 of 43
11. Write the expression log 3 54 + log 3 10 − log 3 20 as a single logarithm and simplify
the result.

1 2
12. Write the expression 3 log 𝑥 − 3 log 𝑦 − 3 log 𝑧 as a single logarithm.

13. Estimate log 2 50 between two consecutive integers.

14. Solve the following exponential equations. Exact answers only.

a. 42𝑥−3 = 64 1 2−5𝑤
b. 272𝑤+5 = (3)

Page 37 of 43
c. 5𝑥 = 83 d. 400 + 104𝑥−1 = 63,000

e. 100 = 700𝑒 −0.2𝑘 f. 35𝑥−6 = 24𝑥+1

g. 𝑒 2𝑥 − 5𝑒 𝑥 − 14 = 0
15. Solve the following logarithmic equations. Exact answers only.

a. 8 log 4 (𝑤 + 6) = 24 b. log(𝑡 − 18) = 1.4

16. Suppose that $10,000 is invested and at the end of 5 years, the value of the account is
$13,771.28. Use the model 𝐴 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 to determine the average rate of return under
continuous compounding. (Round your answer to 1 decimal place)

Page 39 of 43
17. On January 1, 2010, the population of Texas was approximately 25.2 million. On
January 1, 2019, the population was 29.1 million. Let 𝑡 = 0 represent the year 2010.

a. Write a function defined by 𝑃(𝑡) = 𝑃0 𝑒𝑟𝑡 to represent the population of Texas

𝑃(𝑡), in millions, 𝑡 years after 2010.

b. Use the function from part (a) to predict the population in 2029.

c. Use the function from part (a) to determine the year for which the population of
Texas will be reach 40 million if this trend continues.

Page 40 of 43
18. Suppose that $12,000 is invested into an account, compounded daily over 3 years. At

approximately what rate will it take the account to reach $15,000?

** Drop by the Math Help Center 05.01.62 if you ever have any questions. **

Page 41 of 43
Unit 3 Review (Solutions)

1.

2.

3. 𝑎. 32 = 9
1
𝑏. 10−3 = 1000
𝑐. 60 = 1

4. 𝑎. log 2 32 = 5
𝑏. log 1 64 = −2
8

5. 𝑎. −3
𝑏. −1
𝑐. 9

6. 𝑎. 1
𝑏. 3
𝑐. 0
𝑑. 𝑒

Page 42 of 43
7. 8.

1
9. 𝑎. (−∞, 3)

𝑏. (−2, ∞)
𝑐. (−8,8)

10. 𝑎. 4 ln 𝑎 + ln 𝑏 − 9 ln 𝑐
2 2
𝑏. 3 − 3 log 5 (𝑎2 + 𝑏)

11. log 3 27 = 3

𝑥3
12. log ( 3 )
√𝑦𝑧 2

13. 5 < log 2 50 < 6

14. 𝑎. 𝑥 = 3
𝑏. 𝑤 = −17
log 83
𝑐. 𝑥 = log 5 = log 5 83
log 62,000+1
𝑑. 𝑥 = 4
ln 7
𝑒. 𝑘 = = 5 ln 7
0.2
ln 2+6 ln 3
𝑓. 𝑥 = 5 ln 3−4 ln 2
𝑔. 𝑥 = ln 7

15. 𝑎. 𝑤 = 58
𝑏. 𝑡 = 101.4 + 18

16. 𝑟 = 6.4%

17. a. 𝑃(𝑡) = 25.2𝑒 0.01599𝑡

𝑏. 34 million
𝑐. 2038

18. 7.4%

Page 43 of 43