P3- Chap 5 - Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Q1.

In a controlled experiment, the number of microbes, N, present in a culture T days after the start of the
experiment were counted.

N and T are expected to satisfy a relationship of the form

N = aT b where a and b are constants

(a) Show that this relationship can be expressed in the form

log10N = m log10T + c
giving m and c in terms of the constants a and/or b.
(2)
/

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows the line of best fit for values of log10N plotted against values of log10T

(b) Use the information provided to estimate the number of microbes present in the culture 3 days after
the start of the experiment.
(4)
(c) With reference to the model, interpret the value of the constant a.
(1)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q08 WMA13/01, Specimen papers )

Q2.

The amount of an antibiotic in the bloodstream, from a given dose, is modelled by the formula

x = De−0.2t

where x is the amount of the antibiotic in the bloodstream in milligrams, D is the dose given in milligrams
and t is the time in hours after the antibiotic has been given.

A first dose of 15 mg of the antibiotic is given.

(a) Use the model to find the amount of the antibiotic in the bloodstream 4 hours after the dose is given.
Give your answer in mg to 3 decimal places.
(2)
A second dose of 15 mg is given 5 hours after the first dose has been given. Using the same model for
the second dose,

(b) show that the total amount of the antibiotic in the bloodstream 2 hours after the second dose is given
is 13.754 mg to 3 decimal places.
(2)
No more doses of the antibiotic are given. At time T hours after the second dose is given, the total amount
of the antibiotic in the bloodstream is 7.5 mg.

(c) Show that T = a ln , where a and b are integers to be determined.

(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

(Q10 WMA13/01, Specimen papers )

Q3.

Figure 1 shows a linear relationship between log10y and log10x

The line passes through the points (0, 4) and (6, 0) as shown.

(a) Find an equation linking log10y with log10x

(2)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, express y in the form pxq, where p and q are constants to be found.
(3)

(Total for question = 5 marks)

(Q03 WMA13/01, Jan 2020)

Q4.

A scientist monitored the growth of bacteria on a dish over a 30-day period.

The area, N mm2, of the dish covered by bacteria, t days after monitoring began, is modelled by the
equation

log10N = 0.0646 t + 1.478 0 ≤ t ≤ 30

(a) Show that this equation may be written in the form

N = a bt
 where a and b are constants to be found. Give the value of a to the nearest integer and give the value
of b to 3 significant figures.
(4)
(b) Use the model to find the area of the dish covered by bacteria 30 days after monitoring began. Give
your answer,
in mm2, to 2 significant figures.
(2)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

(Q02 WMA13/01, Oct 2020)

Q5.

The percentage, P, of the population of a small country who have access to the internet, is modelled by
the equation

P = abt

where a and b are constants and t is the number of years after the start of 2005

Using the data for the years between the start of 2005 and the start of 2010, a graph is plotted of log 10P
against t.

The points are found to lie approximately on a straight line with gradient 0.09 and intercept 0.68 on the
log10P axis.

(a) Find, according to the model, the value of a and the value of b, giving your answers to 2 decimal
places.
(4)
(b) In the context of the model, give a practical interpretation of the constant a.
(1)
(c) Use the model to estimate the percentage of the population who had access to the internet at the start
of 2015
(2)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q08 WMA13/01, Jan 2021)

Q6.
Figure 3 shows a sketch of curve C1 with equation y = 5e x−1 + 3

and of curve C2 with equation y = 10 − x2

The point P lies on C1 and has y coordinate 18

(a) Find the x coordinate of P, writing your answer in the form ln k, where k is a constant to be found.
(3)
The curve C1 meets the curve C2 at x = α and at x = β, as shown in Figure 3.

(b) Using a suitable interval and a suitable function that should be stated, show that to 3 decimal places α
= 1.134
(3)
The iterative equation

is used to find an approximation to β.

Using this iterative formula with x1 = −3

(c) find the value of x2 and the value of β, giving each answer to 6 decimal places.
(3)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

(Q06 WMA13/01, Oct 2020)

Q7.
The number of subscribers to an online video streaming service, N, is modelled by the equation

N = abt

where a and b are constants and t is the number of years since monitoring began.

The line in Figure 1 shows the linear relationship between t and log10N

The line passes through the points (0, 3.08) and (5, 3.85)

Using this information,

(a) find an equation for this line.

(2)
(b) Find the value of a and the value of b, giving your answers to 3 significant figures.
(3)
When t = T the number of subscribers is 500 000

According to the model,

(c) find the value of T

(2)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q04 WMA13/01, June 2022)

Q8.

The temperature, θ °C, inside an oven, t minutes after the oven is switched on, is given by

θ = A – 180e–kt

where A and k are positive constants.

Given that the temperature inside the oven is initially 18 °C,

(a) find the value of A.

(2)
The temperature inside the oven, 5 minutes after the oven is switched on, is 90 °C.

(b) Show that k = p ln q where p and q are rational numbers to be found.

(4)
Hence find

(c) the temperature inside the oven 9 minutes after the oven is switched on, giving your answer to 3
significant figures,
(2)
(d) the rate of increase of the temperature inside the oven 9 minutes after the oven is switched on. Give
your answer in °C min–1 to 3 significant figures.
(3)

(Total for question = 11 marks)

(Q05 WMA13/01, Jan 2021)

Q9.

The total mass of gold, G tonnes, extracted from a mine is modelled by the equation

G = 40 – 30e1–0.05t t≥k G≥0

where t is the number of years after 1st January 1800.

Figure 2 shows a sketch of G against t.

Use the equation of the model to answer parts (a), (b) and (c).

(a) (i) Find the value of k.

(ii) Hence find the year and month in which gold started being extracted from the mine.
(3)
(b) Find the total mass of gold extracted from the mine up to 1st January 1870.
(2)
There is a limit to the mass of gold that can be extracted from the mine.

(c) State the value of this limit.

(1)
 (Total for question = 6 marks)

(Q03 WMA13/01, Oct 2021)

Q10.

A population of a rare species of toad is being studied.

The number of toads, N, in the population, t years after the start of the study, is modelled by the equation

According to this model,

(a) calculate the number of toads in the population at the start of the study,
(1)
(b) find the value of t when there are 420 toads in the population, giving your answer to 2 decimal places.
(4)
(c) Explain why, according to this model, the number of toads in the population can never reach 500
(1)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

(Q01 WMA13/01, Jan 2020)

Q11.

The line l in Figure 1 shows a linear relationship between log10y and x.

The line passes through the points (0, 1.5) and (−4.8, 0) as shown.

(a) Write down an equation for l.

(2)
x
(b) Hence, or otherwise, express y in the form kb , giving the values of the constants k and b to 3
significant figures.
 (3)

(Total for question = 5 marks)

(Q03 WMA13/01, Jan 2023)

Q12.

A dose of antibiotics is given to a patient.

The amount of the antibiotic, x milligrams, in the patient's bloodstream t hours after the dose was given, is
found to satisfy the equation

log10x = 2.74 – 0.079t

(a) Show that this equation can be written in the form

x = pq–t
where p and q are constants to be found. Give the value of p to the nearest whole number and the
value of q to 2 significant figures.
(4)
(b) With reference to the equation in part (a), interpret the value of the constant p.
(1)
When a different dose of the antibiotic is given to another patient, the values of x and t satisfy the
equation

x = 400 × 1.4–t

(c) Use calculus to find, to 2 significant figures, the value of when t = 5

(3)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

(Q08 WMA13/01, Jan 2022)

Q13.

In this question you must show all stages of your working.

Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve with equation

where k is a constant.

Given that the curve

· has an asymptote at x = k
· cuts the y-axis at point A
· meets the x-axis at point B

as shown in Figure 2,

(a) state the value of k

(1)
(b) (i) find the y coordinate of A
(ii) find the exact x coordinate of B
(3)
(c) Using algebra and showing your working, find the set of values of x such that

(5)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

(Q09 WMA13/01, Oct 2023)

Q14.

In this question you must show all stages of your working.

Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.

A population of fruit flies is being studied.

The number of fruit flies, F, in the population, t days after the start of the study, is modelled by the
equation
where k is a constant.

Use the equation of the model to answer parts (a), (b) and (c).

(a) Find the number of fruit flies in the population at the start of the study.
(1)
Given that there are 200 fruit flies in the population 15 days after the start of the study,

(b) show that

(3)
Given also that, when t = T, the number of fruit flies in the population is increasing at a rate of 10 per day,

(c) find the possible values of T, giving your answers to one decimal place.
(5)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

(Q10 WMA13/01, Jan 2023)

Q15.

The functions f and g are defined by

(a) State the range of f.

(1)
(b) Find fg(x), giving your answer in its simplest form.
(2)
(c) Find the exact value of x for which f(2x + 3) = 6
(4)
(d) Find f −1 stating its domain.
(3)
−1
(e) On the same axes sketch the curves with equation y = f(x) and y = f (x), giving the coordinates of all
the points where the curves cross the axes.
(4)

(Total for question = 14 marks)

 (Q06 WMA13/01, Specimen papers )

Q16.

The function f and the function g are defined by

(a) Find, in simplest form, the value of fg(e2)

(2)
–1
(b) Find f
(3)
(c) Hence, or otherwise, find all real solutions of the equation

f–1(x) = f(x)
(3)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

(Q02 WMA13/01, Jan 2020)

Q17.

The amount of money raised for a charity is being monitored.

The total amount raised in the t months after monitoring began, £D, is modelled by the equation

log10D = 1.04 + 0.38t

(a) Write this equation in the form

D = abt
where a and b are constants to be found. Give each value to 4 significant figures.
(3)
When t = T, the total amount of money raised is £45 000

According to the model,

(b) find the value of T, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.

(2)
The charity aims to raise a total of £350 000 within the first 12 months of monitoring.

According to the model,

(c) determine whether or not the charity will achieve its aim.
(2)
 (Total for question = 7 marks)

(Q03 WMA13/01, Jan 2024)

Q18.

Figure 1 shows the linear relationship between log6T and log6x

The line passes through the points (0, 4) and (2, 0) as shown.

(a) (i) Find an equation linking log6T and log6x

(ii) Hence find the exact value of T when x = 216
(3)
(b) Find an equation, not involving logs, linking T with x
(3)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

(Q02 WMA13/01, June 2023)

Mark Scheme
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