Exponential Functions

Objectives
To use the properties of exponents to:
➢ Simplify exponential expressions.
➢ Solve exponential equations.
To sketch graphs of exponential functions.
 Exponential Functions
A polynomial function has the basic form: f (x) = x3

An exponential function has the basic form: f (x) = 3x

An exponential function has the variable in the exponent,

not in the base.

General Form of an Exponential Function:

f (x) = Nx, N > 0
 Properties of Exponents
X
A A = A
X Y X +Y A X −Y
Y
= A
A
(A )
X Y
= A XY −X
A = X
1
A
( AB ) = A B
X X X
1
−X
= A X

X
A
 A
X
A
  = BX
( A)
X
= A =
X
B
Y X Y
A Y
 Properties of Exponents
Simplify: 2  2 = 2 = 32
2 3 5

−6 1 1 −4
2 2 = 2 = 4 =
2

2 16

(2 )
3 2
= 2 6 = 64
 Properties of Exponents
−3 −3
2 2 33 27
Simplify:   = −3 = 3 =
3 3 2 8

7
3 1 1
9
=3 = 2 =
−2

3 3 9

( 2 )(8 ) = ( 2  8)
1
= 16 2 = 16 = 4
1 1 2 1
2 2
 Exponential Equations
( x−1) −1
Solve: 5 = 125
x
Solve: 7 =7 2
5x = 53 x − 1 = − 12
x=3 x = 12
 Exponential Equations
Solve: 8 = 2
x
Solve: 8 = 4
x

(2 )
3 x
=2
1
(2 )
3 x
=2 2

2 =2
3x 1
2 =2
3x 2

3x = 1 3x = 2

x = 13 x= 2
3
 Exponential Equations
Solve: ( )
1 x
3 = 27 Solve: x 3 = 27
1

(3 ) ( )
3
−1 x
= 27 = 273
1
x 3

−x
3 =3 3 x = 19,683

−x = 3 Not considered an
exponential equation,
because the variable

x = −3
is now in the base.
 Exponential Equations
x 4 =8
3
Solve:

( )
Not considered an 4

=8 3
3 3 4
exponential equation,
because the variable
x 4

( 8)
is in the base.
4
x= 3

x = ( 2)
4

x = 16
 Exponential Functions
General Form of an Exponential Function:
f (x) = Nx, N > 0

g(x) = 2x g(3) = 8
g(2) = 4
x
g(1) = 2
g(0) = 1
g(–1) = 2 −1 = 12
g(–2) = 2−2 = 2 = 14
1
2x 2
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
x g ( x)

2 4

1 2
0 1
1
–1 2

1
–2 4
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
x h( x)

2 9

1 3
0 1
1
–1 3

1
–2 9
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) Exponential functions with
positive bases greater than
1 have graphs that are
increasing.

The function never crosses

the x-axis because there is
nothing we can plug in for x
that will yield a zero
answer.
h(x) = 3x (red)

The x-axis is a left

horizontal asymptote.
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) A smaller base means the
graph rises more
gradually.

A larger base means the

graph rises more quickly.

Exponential functions will

h(x) = 3x (red) not have negative bases.
 The Number e

A base often associated with exponential functions is:

e  2.71828169
 The Number e
lim (1 + x )  2.71828169
1
Compute: x

x →0

lim− (1 + x ) lim+ (1 + x )
1 1
x x

x→0 x→0

(1 + x ) (1 + x )
1 1
x x
x x

–.1 2.868 .1 2.5937

–.01 2.732 .01 2.7048

–.001 2.7196 .001 2.7169
 The Number e
Euler’s number
Leonhard Euler
(pronounced “oiler”)
Swiss mathematician
and physicist
The Exponential Function
f (x) = ex
Exponential Functions
j ( x) = ( 2 )
1 x

x j ( x)

2
1
4

1
1 2

0 1
–1 2

–2 4
 Exponential Functions
j ( x) = ( 2 )
1 x

Exponential functions with positive bases less

than 1 have graphs that are decreasing.
 Why study exponential functions?
Exponential functions are used in our real world
to measure growth, interest, and decay.

Growth obeys exponential functions.

Ex: rumors, human population, bacteria,
computer technology, nuclear chain reactions,
compound interest

Decay obeys exponential functions.

Ex: Carbon-14 dating, half-life, Newton’s Law of
Cooling