Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Lecture

Sebsibe T.

BITS College

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Powers

Definition
Recall that for any a ∈ R and n ∈ N, a.a
| {z. . . a} := a n .
n
a n is called the nth power of a.
a is called the base and , n is called the exponent of a n .

Basic Rules

(1) a n a m = a n+m , n, m ∈ N, a ∈ R

If n, m ∈ N, n > m, then n = m + (n − m). Thus,

a n = a m+(n−m) = a m a n−m . This gives,

an
(2) = a n−m
am

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

For n, m ∈ N, a ∈ R,
n.n . . . n}
(a n )m n n n
= a| .a {z. . . a } = a = a nm .
| {z
m

m
Thus,
(3) (a n )m = a nm
For a, b ∈ R, n ∈ N, we also have

(4) (ab)n = a n b n
If in addition, b 6= 0,
 a n an
(5) =
b bn
Now let us define,
(6) a 0 = 1, a ∈ R, a 6= 0

1
(7) a −1 = , a ∈ R, a 6= 0, n ∈ N.
an
Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions
Remark
00 and 0−n , n ∈ N are not defined.
In this case, if n < m then m = n + (m − n)
an an 1
= = m−n = a n−m , by equation 7
a m a n+(m−n) a
Thus, we can apply all the above rules to integral exponents, with
appropriate adjustments on the bases as given in Equations 6, 7
and the above remark.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
2−3 .35 .64
Compute .
2.39 .6−2

Solution.

2−3 .35 .64 2−3 .35 .24 .34

=
2.39 .6−2 2.39 .2−2 .3−2
2−3 .24 .35 .34
=
2.2−2 .39 .3−2
2.39
=
2 .37
−1

= 22 .32
= 36

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
3−3 .42 .7−4
Compute .
3−2 .43 .7−3

Solution.

3−3 42 7−4 1 1 1
=
3−2 43 7−3 3−2+3 43−2 7−3+4
1
=
84

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Roots

Definition
Let n ∈ N, n > 1. a ∈ R is the nth root of b ∈ R iff a n = b.

Remark
Recall that, if n is odd, for any b ∈ R, there is a unique a ∈ R
such that a n = b. √
In this case we can write a = n b.
On the other hand, when n is even, and b < 0, there is no real
number a such that a n = b.
When n is even and b > 0, there is a > 0 such that a n = b and
(−a)n = b.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Remark
√
When b = 0, a = n 0 = 0.
For n even and b > 0, the non-negative nth root a of b is called
√
the principal or arithmetic root of b, and is written as a = n b.

Example
32 = 9 and (−3)2√= 9. The principal root of 9 is 3.
So, we write √
3 = 9.
Obviously, − 9 = −3.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

 b, n odd
(
√
Suppose b ∈ R. Then n
bn =
|b| n even

Example
3
(−3)3 = −3, but (−3)2 = | − 3| = 3.
p p

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Rules for roots or radicals Provided that all parts are defined,
√n √ √ n
(8) ab = n a b

√
m √
(9) a = am
n n

√
a n
a
r
(10) n
= √
b n
b
√ m
Suppose m = nk. Then, n a m = a n = a k .
In
√ case m = nq
√ + r , 0 < r < q,
a = aq n ar .
n mq+r

Example
√ √7
√ √
2 = 28(7)+2 = 28 22 = 256 7 4.
7 58 7

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Here are additional properties:

n √ √
q
(11) m
a = nm a
√
Given m a n , suppose GCD(m.n) = k.
Then, m = ks, n = kl. This
√ gives,
√ n kl l s
a = a m = a ks = a s = a l
m n

Example
√
15 12
√
5×3
√
5
a = a 4×3 = a4 .

Example
√
11 4
√
11×4 4×4
√
44
a = a = a 16 .

Example
√ √ √ √ √ √
6 3 6 2 6
√
6 3
√ √ √
2 3
4 6
2 = 2 4 2 = 2 .42 .2 = 6 28 = 3 24 = 3 23 .2 =
√
232

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
√ √ √
12 8
√
12
3
36 4 9 2 .38 36 √
12
√
√ = √ = 22 .312 = 3 6 2.
5
24 12 6
2 .32

Remark
Exponents can be rational numbers. In this case, provided it exists,
p √
a q = q ap .
−p 1
Provided a 6= 0, a q = √ .
q p
a
In fact exponent can be any real number, provided the base a > 0.
ax 1
If x, y ∈ R, a, b > 0, a x a y = a x+y , = a x−y = y−x ,
a y a
x y xy x x x 0 1
(a ) = a , (ab) = a b , a = 1, a = x . −x
a

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Exponential Functions

Definition
A function of the form f (x) = a x , a > 0, a 6= 1 is an exponential
function.
Here are sample graphs of exponential functions:

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Remark
From the figure of let us observe the properties of exponential
functions:
1. For any exponential function f (x) = a x , a > 0, a 6= 1,
D(f ) = R, while R(f ) = (0, ∞).
2. All exponential functions pass through the point
(0, 1).
3. The line y = 0 is the horizontal asymptote of every
exponential function.
4 When a > 1, f (x) > 1, for x > 0 and 0 < f (x) < 1
for x < 0.
5. When 0 < a < 1, f (x) > 1, for x < 0 and
0 < f (x) < 1 for x > 0.
6. For a > 1, f (x) = a x is strictly increasing and is
1 − 1.
7. For 0 < a < 1, f (x) = a x is strictly decreasing and is
1 − 1.
Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions
Logarithms

Assume a > 0, a 6= 1.
If b > 0 and a x = b, then b is found by raising a to the power of x
and
a is found by taking the x th root of b (raising both sides to the
power of x1 ).
But how can we solve for x?
To answer this, we start with the following definition.
Definition
The logarithm of a number b > 0 to the base a > 0, a 6= 1 is the
power to which a must be raised in order to obtain b.
This is symbolized as loga b and a loga b = b.
Thus, a x = b iff x = loga b.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
1. 24 = 16 means log2 16 = 4
2. 103 = 1000 gives log10 1000 = 3.
3. loga 125 = 3 implies that a 3 = 125 = 53 . This gives
a = 5.

Example
Find log2 18 .

Solution.
1
Let x = log2 18 . Then, 2x = = 2−3
8
1
Thus, x = −3 i.e., log2 8 = −3.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
√
Find log 1 9 3 3.
3

Solution.
√ 1 7
− 7
9 3 3 = 32 3 3 = 3 3 = 13 3 .
√ 7
Therefore, log 1 9 3 3 = − .
3 3

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Basic Rules The following are basic properties of logarithms: Let
a, b > 0, a 6= 1, b 6= 1, x, y > 0, t ∈ R.

(12) loga xy = loga x + loga y

x
 
(13) loga = loga x − loga y
y

(14) loga x t = t loga x

(15) loga 1 = 0, loga a = 1

logb x
(16) loga x =
logb a

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
Solve
a. log4 16 = x
b. log3 x = −2
c. log 5125 = x

Solution.
a. log4 16 = x iff 4x = 16 iff 4x = 42 . Thus, x = 2.
1
b. log3 x = −2 iff x = 3−2 = .
9
c. log5 125 = x iff 5 = 125 iff 5x = 53 . therefore,
x

x = 3.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Remark
log10 x is usually written as log x.
loge x is usually written as ln x.

Example
1 log 10000 = log10 104 = 4
1 1 1
2 ln e 2 = loge e 2 =
2
3 e ln a = a, a > 0.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
Assume x, y > 0. Expand each of the following.
1 log xy −3

Solution.
log(xy −3 ) = log x + log y −3 = log x − 3 log y
 1√ 
2 ln 3x 2 3 y

Solution.
 1√ 
ln 3x 2 3 y = ln 3 + 12 ln x + 13 ln y.
√
x 2 +2

3 log
a (x+1)3

Solution.
√
x 2 +2 1
loga (x 2 + 2) − 3 loga (x + 1).

loga (x+1) 3 = 2

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
Solve
a. 102x−1 = 3x
Solution.
x
100x 100

102x−1 = 3x ⇔ = 3x ⇔ = 10 ⇔ x = log33.3 10 ≈
10 3
0.6568
b. 3e 2x + 6 = 24
Solution.
√ 1
3e 2x + 6 = 24 ⇔ (e x )2 = 6 ⇔ e x = 6⇔x = ln 6 ≈
2
0.8959.
c. log 2x − log(x + 4) = 1
Solution.
2x 2x
log 2x −log(x +4) = 1 ⇔ log =1⇔ = 10 ⇔ x = −5.
 
x+4 x +4
Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions
Example
Solve
2
1 e −x = e −3x−4
Solution.
2
e −x = e −3x−4 ⇔ −x 2 = −3x − 4 ⇔ x 2 − 3x − 4 = 0 ⇔ x =
−1 or x = 4.
2 e 2x − 3e x + 2 = 0
Solution.
Put y = e x . Then, e 2x − 3e x + 2 = 0 ⇔ y 2 − 3y + 2 = 0 ⇔ y =
1 or y = 2 ⇔ x = 0 or x = ln 2.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Example
1 log3 (5x − 1) = log3 (x + 7)
Solution.
log3 (5x − 1) = log3 (x + 7) ⇔ 5x − 1 = x + 7 ⇔ x = 2.
√ √
2 log 3 x = log x, x > 0.
Solution.
√ √ 1 1
log 3 x = log x ⇔ log x = log x ⇔ log x = 0 ⇔ x = 1.
3 2

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

The Logarithmic functions

Definition
Let a > 0, a 6= 1. A logarithmic function to the base a, denoted by
f (x) = loga x is the inverse of the exponential function g(x) = a x .
i.e., g(x) = f −1 (x).

Remark
It follows from the definition that
1 y = loga x ⇔ x = a y
2 f ◦ f −1 (x) = I(x) ⇔ f (a x ) = I(x) ⇔ loga a x = x
3 f −1 ◦ f (x) = I(x) ⇔ f −1 (loga x) = I(x) ⇔ a loga x = x.

The following figure illustrates the definition and the remark:

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions
Remark
The following properties hold for f (x) = loga x, a > 0, a 6= 1.
1 D(f ) = (0, ∞), R(f ) = R.
2 The graph is increasing for a > 1 and decreasing for
0 < a < 1.
3 The x-intercept is 1, while it has no y-intercept.
4 The y-axis is vertical asymptote.

Sebsibe T. Exponential and Logarithmic functions