Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
◆ Exponential Functions
◆ Logarithmic Functions
Exponential Functions
y
4
f(x) = 2x
f(x) = (1/2)x
x
–2 2
Exponential Function
◆ The function defined by
f ( x) = b x (b 0, b 1)
is called an exponential function with base b
and exponent x.
◆ The domain of f is the set of all real numbers.
Laws of Exponents
◆ Let a and b be positive numbers and let x
and y be real numbers. Then,
1. b x b y = b x + y
x
b
2. y = b x − y
b
(b )
y
3. x
= b xy
( ab) = a xb x
x
4.
x
a ax
5. = x
b b
Examples
◆ Let 16 = 22x – 1. Find the value of x for .
Solution
◆ We want to solve the equation
22x – 1 = 16 = 24
◆ But this equation holds if and only if
2x – 1 = 4
5
giving x = .
2
3.2
Logarithmic Functions
y y = ex y=x
y = ln x
1
x
1
Logarithmic Function
◆ The function defined by
f ( x ) = logb x (b 0, b 1)
is called the logarithmic function with base b.
◆ The domain of f is the set of all positive numbers.
Logarithms
◆ We’ve discussed exponential equations of the form
y = bx (b > 0, b ≠ 1)
◆ But what about solving the same equation for y?
◆ You may recall that y is called the logarithm of x to the
base b, and is denoted logbx.
✦ Logarithm of x to the base b
y = logbx if and only if x = by (x > 0)
Examples
◆ Solve log3x = 4 for x:
Solution
◆ By definition, log3x = 4 implies x = 34 = 81.
Logarithmic Notation
log x = log10 x Common logarithm
ln x = loge x Natural logarithm
Laws of Logarithms
◆ If m and n are positive numbers, then
1. logb mn = logb m + logb n
m
2. log b = log b m − log b n
n
3. log b m n = n log b m
4. logb 1 = 0
5. logb b = 1
Examples
◆ Use the properties of logarithms to solve the equation for x:
log3 ( x + 1) − log3 ( x − 1) = 1
x +1
log 3 =1 Law 2
x −1
x +1 1
=3 =3 Definition of
x −1 logarithms
x + 1 = 3( x − 1)
x + 1 = 3x − 3
4 = 2x
x=2
Examples
◆ Use the properties of logarithms to solve the equation for x:
log x + log(2 x − 1) = log 6
log x + log(2 x − 1) − log 6 = 0
x (2 x − 1)
log =0 Laws 1 and 2
6
x (2 x − 1)
= 100 = 1 Definition of
logarithms
6
x (2 x − 1) = 6
2 x2 − x − 6 = 0
(2 x + 3)( x − 2) = 0 3
x=− is out of
x=2 2
the domain of log x ,
so it is discarded.