EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

YEAR QUESTION
Spec 1. Solve the equation 3𝑥−2 = 1 𝑥
27
.

2. Solve the equation 2𝑥 = 15.

1999 1. Solve the equation 81𝑥+1 = 27𝑥 .
Unit 2 paper 1
1. The variation of the solubility, S, of a chemical substance with temperature, 𝜃, can be
modelled by the equation 𝑆 = 60.2 1.01 𝜃 , where 𝜃 is an integer. Calculate the value of
𝜃 when 𝑆 is 100.
2001 4 2𝑥
2. Solve the equation, 2 = 32.
1 𝑥
2

Unit 2 paper 1
2
1. Solve for 𝑎, log 2 𝑎 + = 3, 𝑎 > 0.
log 2 𝑎

3. Solve the equation 3𝑥 = 2𝑥+1 .

2002 Unit 1 paper 1
1. Solve for 𝑥 the equation22𝑥 − 3 2𝑥+1 + 8 = 0.
Unit 2 paper 1
2. Solve the equation 𝑒 2𝑥 − 2𝑒 𝑥 = 3, for real 𝑥.
Paper 2
1(a)(i) Solve the simultaneous equations for 𝑥 > 0, 𝑦 > 0
𝑥𝑦 = 4
2 ln 𝑥 = ln 2 + ln 𝑦
1
(ii) Show that log 𝑥 𝑦 = log 𝑦 𝑥
for 𝑥, 𝑦 real and positive.

Hence, if log 𝑥 𝑦 = 2 + 3 log 𝑦 𝑥 , find 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥.

2003 Unit 1 paper 1
2
3𝑥
1. Solve, for 𝑥, the equation 27
= 9𝑥 .

Paper 3B
1.(c) Find the values of 𝑥 which satisfy the equation 22𝑥 − 3 2𝑥+2 + 32 = 0.
Unit 2 paper 1
2. In the diagram shown below, find the coordinates 𝑐, 𝑑 , 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑚, 𝑛 .

1 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 y

x(a, b)

(c, d)x

x(m, n)
y=2e^x
y=e^2x x

3. Given that 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 = 4, 𝑠𝑕𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑕𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = ln 2 + 5 .

Paper 2
1(c)(i) Given that 𝑥 = 2𝑦 , 𝑦 > 0 express in terms of 𝑦
a) log 2 𝑥
b) log 𝑥 2
(ii) hence, or otherwise, solve the equation log 2 𝑥 = 8log 𝑥 2 + 2
2004 4
1. (a) Show that 2𝑥 = 22−𝑥 .

(b) Solve, for 𝑥, the equation2𝑥 + 22−𝑥 = 5.

Unit 2 paper 1
1. In the diagram below, the line 𝑦 = 3 cuts the curve 𝑦 = 𝑒 2𝑥 at the point 𝑎, 𝑏 .

y
y=e^2x

y=3
(a, b)

(0, 1)

2 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 Calculate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏.

3(b) Solve, for 𝑥, the equation𝑒 2𝑥 − 3𝑒 𝑥 − 4 = 0.

Paper 2
1(a) If 2 log 𝑎 2 + log 𝑎 10 − 3 log 𝑎 3 = 3 + log 𝑎 5 , 𝑎 > 0, find the value of 𝑎.
(b) Find the value(s) of 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 which satisfy 2 log 3 𝑥 = log 3 𝑥 + 6 .
(c) Complete the table below for values of 2𝑥 and𝑒 𝑥 using a calculator, where necessary.
Approximate all values to 1 decimal place.
𝒙 −𝟐 −𝟏 𝟎 𝟎. 𝟓 𝟏 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟐 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟑
𝟐𝒙 0.3 1.4 2.8 5.7
𝒆𝒙 0.1 1.6 4.5 12.2

(d) On the same pair of axes and using a scale of 2 cm for 1 unit on the x-axis, 1 cm for 1 unit
on the y-axis, draw the graphs of the two curves 𝑦 = 2𝑥 and𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 for − 2 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3.
(e) Use your graphs to find
(i) the value of 𝑥 satisfying2𝑥 =𝑒 𝑥
(ii) the SMALLEST INTEGER 𝑥 for which𝑒 𝑥 − 2𝑥 > 3.
Paper 3B
1
1(a)(i) Complete the table shown below for 𝑦 = 2 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 using a calculator where

necessary.
𝒙 −𝟐. 𝟎 −𝟏. 𝟓 −𝟏. 𝟎 −𝟎. 𝟓 𝟎 𝟎. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟎
𝒆𝒙 0.14 0.22 0.61 1.65 0.22 0.14
𝒆−𝒙 7.40 4.48 1.65 0.61 4.48 7.40
𝒚 3.27 2.35 1.13 1.13 2.35 3.27

1
(ii) Hence, sketch the curve 𝑦 = 2 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 for values of 𝑥 from − 2 𝑡𝑜 + 2.

2005 Unit 2 paper 1

2(a) Given that log10 3 = 𝑚, log10 𝑒 = 𝑛, express in terms of 𝑚 and/or 𝑛
3
(i) log10
10
(ii) log 𝑒 9
(b) Find the value of 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 for which3𝑥 = 7.

3 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 Paper 2
1(a) The diagram below shows two points 𝑃 𝑝, 0.368 and 𝑅 3.5, 𝑟 on 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 for 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.
y

Rx

Px
x

(i) Copy the diagram above on the same axes, sketch the graph of 𝑔 𝑥 = ln 𝑥.
(ii) Describe clearly the relationship between 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑔 𝑥 = ln 𝑥.
(iii) Using calculators, find the value of
a) 𝑟
b) 𝑝.
(b) Given that log 𝑎 𝑏𝑐 = 𝑥, log 𝑏 𝑐𝑎 = 𝑦, log 𝑐 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑧 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 = 𝑏 = 𝑐, show that
𝑎 𝑥 𝑏 𝑦 𝑐 𝑧 = 𝑎𝑏𝑐 2 .
(c) Find the values of 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 for which𝑒 𝑥 + 3𝑒 −𝑥 = 4.
2006 Unit 2 paper 1
2
1(a) Solve, for 𝑥, the equation log 2 𝑥 + = 3, 𝑥 > 0.
log 2 𝑥
Paper 3B
2
3𝑥
1.(a) Solve = 9𝑥+2 .
81

2007 2(a) Solve, for 𝑥, the equation 3𝑥 2

= 27 𝑥−2
.
Unit 2 Paper 1
1(a) In the diagram below, the curves 𝑦 = 2𝑒 −2𝑥 and 𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑥 intersect at 𝑃 𝑝, 𝑞 .

4 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 y
𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑥

𝑦 = 2𝑒 −2𝑥

𝑃 𝑝, 𝑞
x
0
Determine the values of 𝑝 and 𝑞.
(b) Solve 22𝑥+1 = 6 for 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.

Unit 2 Paper 2
1(a) Solve, for 𝑥 > 0, the equation 3 log 8 𝑥 = 2 log 𝑥 8 − 5.
(b) (i) Copy and complete the table below for values 2𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒 −𝑥 using a calculator, where
necessary. Approximate all values to 2 decimal places.

𝒙 −𝟏. 𝟎 𝟎 𝟎. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟎 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟎 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟑. 𝟎
𝟐𝒙 1.00 1.41 2.00 4.00 8.00
𝒆−𝒙 2.72 0.37 0.22 0.05

(ii) On the same pair of axes and using a scale of 4 cm for 1 unit on the x-axis, 4 cm for 1 unit
on the y-axis, drawn the graphs of the two curves 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝑒 −𝑥 for −1 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 3,
𝑥 ∈ 𝑅.

(iii) Use your graphs to find

(a) the value of 𝑥 satisfying2𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 = 0
(b) the range values of 𝑥 for which2𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 < 0.
2008 Paper 2
1 −1
2(b) (i) Solve for 𝑥 the equation𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 3 = 3.
(ii) Find 𝑥 such that log 5 𝑥 + 3 + log 5 𝑥 − 1 = 1.
(iii) Without the use of calculators or tables, evaluate
1 2 3 8 9
log10 + log10 + log10 + ⋯ + log10 + log10 .
2 3 4 9 10

Paper 3B
1(b) Solve for 𝑥 the equation5𝑥 − 5𝑥−2 = 15 000.
1(c) A computer manufacturer finds that when 𝑥 million dollars are spent on research,

5 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 the profit, 𝑃 𝑥 , in millions of dollars, is given by 𝑃 𝑥 = 20 + 5 log 3 𝑥 + 3 .
(i) What is the expected profit if 6 million dollars are spent on research?
(ii) How much money should be spent on research to make a profit of 40 million dollars?

TNT papers
Unit 1 Paper 1
log 10 𝑚
2(b) (i) Prove that log 𝑛 𝑚 = , 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚, 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁.
log 10 𝑛

(ii) Hence, given that 𝑦 = log 2 3 log 3 4 log 4 5 … log 31 32 , calculate the
exact value of 𝑦.
Paper 3B
1(a)(i) Write log 2 2𝑝 in terms of 𝑝 only.
(ii) Solve for 𝑥 the equation log 2 log 2 2𝑥 − 2 = 2.

Unit 2 paper 2
1(a) Find the exact values of 𝑥 such that𝑒 𝑥 + 7𝑒 −𝑥 = 8.
Paper 3B

1.(a) Given that 𝑥 = ln 𝑦 + 𝑦 2 − 1 , 𝑦 > 1, express 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥.

2009 Paper 2
1(c) Solve the equation log 4 𝑥 = 1 + log 2 2𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0.

Paper 3B
1(c) (i) By taking logarithms, show that for any positive integers 𝑝 and 𝑥, 𝑝log 𝑝 𝑥 = 𝑥.
(ii) Hence, without using calculators or tables, find the EXACT value of
2 log 2 6+log 2 15−2 log 2 3 .
2010 1(b) Solve, for 𝑥 and 𝑦, the simultaneous equations
log 𝑥 − 1 + 2 log 𝑦 = 2 log 3
log 𝑥 + log 𝑦 = log 6.
(d) By using 𝑦 = 2𝑥 , or otherwise, solve 4𝑥 − 3 2𝑥+1 + 8 = 0.
2011 1(c)(i) By substituting 𝑦 = log 2 𝑥, or otherwise, solve, for 𝑥, the equation

log 2 𝑥 = log 2 𝑥.
Paper 3B

6 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 1(a) solve, for 𝑥, the equation2𝑥 + 22−𝑥 = 5.
(c) A car manufacturer finds that when 𝑥 million dollars are spent on research, the
profit, 𝑃 𝑥 , in millions of dollars, is given by 𝑃 𝑥 = 15 + 10 log 4 𝑥 + 4 .
(i) What is the expected profit if 12 million dollars are spent on research?
(ii) How much money should be spent on research to make a profit of 30 million dollars?
2012 2(c) Without the use of calculators or tables, evaluate
1 3 5 7 9
(i) log10 3
+ log10 5
+ log10 7
+ log10 9
+ log10 10
99
𝑟
(ii) log10 .
𝑟+1
𝑟=1

Paper 3B
1
1(c) (i) Prove that log 𝑛 𝑚=
log 𝑚 𝑛

(ii) Hence, solve for 𝑥, the equation log 2 𝑥 + 2 log 𝑥 2 = 3.

2013 Paper 3B
1(b) Solve the equation log 2 𝑥 + 3 = 3 − log 2 𝑥 + 2 .

(c) The amount of impurity, A, present in a chemical depends on the time it takes to purify. It
is known that 𝐴 = 3𝑒 4𝑡 − 7𝑒 2𝑡 − 6 at any time 𝑡 minutes. Find the time at which the
chemical is free of impurity (that is when 𝐴 = 0).

2014 𝑎+𝑏
2(b) Given that 𝑎3 + 𝑏 3 + 3𝑎2 𝑏 = 5𝑎𝑏 2 , show that 3 log 2
= log 𝑎 + 2 log 𝑏.

(c) Solve EACH of the following equations:

1
(i) 𝑒𝑥 + −2=0
𝑒𝑥
(ii) log 2 𝑥 + 1 − log 2 3𝑥 + 1 = 2

2015 2(b) Solve EACH of the following functions:

4 4
3− − =0
9 𝑥 81 𝑥

2(c) The population growth of bacteria present in a river after time, t hours, is given by
𝑁 = 300 + 5𝑡 .
Determine

7 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023

 (i) the number of bacteria present at 𝑡 = 0
(ii) the time required to triple the number of bacteria.
Paper 3B
1(b) Solve the equation log 4 𝑥 2 + 1 − log 2 2𝑥 − 1 = 0.
Guyana paper
1 ln 𝑎
2(a)(i) Show that log 𝑥
may be rewritten as ln 𝑥 , where 𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1.
𝑎

(ii) Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation:

1 1 1 1
+ + + =1
log 2 𝑥 log 3 𝑥 log 4 𝑥 log 5 𝑥
2016 2(a) Solve the following equation for x: log 2 10 − 𝑥 + log 2 𝑥 = 4.
Paper 3B
1(a)(i) Using the substitution 𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥 , or otherwise, solve the equation 𝑒 2𝑥 − 21𝑒 𝑥 − 100 = 0.
2017 𝑎+𝑏 1
2(a)(i) Given that 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 14𝑎𝑏, prove that ln 4
= 2 ln 𝑎 + ln 𝑏 .

(ii) Solve the equation 2−𝑥 + 3 2𝑥 = 4. [Your response may be expressed in terms of
logarithms.]
Paper 3B
−𝑥 −𝑥
1(b) Solve the equation 1 − 7 4 + 6 16 = 0.
2018 1(d) Solve the logarithmic equation log 4 2𝑥 + 2 − log 2 𝑥 + 1 = 1.
Paper 3B
1(d) Solve the equation log 𝑥 2𝑥 − 3 + log 𝑥 4 = 2.
2019 4 4
2.(c) Solve the equation 3 − 9𝑥 − 81𝑥 = 0.

2020 1(b) Solve the equation 3 2𝑥+4 = 360.

2021 1(d) Solve the logarithmic equation log 2 𝑥 + log 4 𝑥 + log16 𝑥 = 7.
2022 1(d) Solve the logarithmic equation log 5 𝑥 + 2 + log 5 𝑥 + 6 = 1.
Paper 3B
1(c) Solve the equation log 3𝑥 3𝑥 + 2 + log 3𝑥 2 = 2, leaving your answer in surd form.
2023 1(d) Solve the logarithmic equation log 3 𝑥 2 − 9 − log 3 𝑥 + 3 = 3.

8 Prepared by Dawn Scott, Updated November 2023