ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS

[LESSON 7]

EXPONENTIAL, TRIGONOMETRIC AND HYPERBOLIC

FUNCTIONS

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
On completion of this tutorial you should be able to do the following.

• Manipulate and solve simple algebraic equations containing logarithms.

• Define the exponential function

• Linearize functions by using logarithmic graphs.

• Define and use natural logarithms.

• Define and use hyperbolic functions.

• Compare hyperbolic and trigonometric functions.

You should judge your progress by completing the self-assessment exercises. These may be sent for
marking at a cost (see home page).
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1. LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Equations containing logarithmic terms can be manipulated algebraically using the basic
relationships that you should have learned at the national level. These are:

a = bn then n = logb(a) where b is the base of the logarithm.

loga(AB) = loga(A) + loga(B)

loga(A/B) = loga(A) – loga(B)

loga(An) = nloga(A)

logb(A) = loga(A)/loga (b)

The following are some examples of what you need to achieve.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 1

When a gas is compressed it is found that the pressure and volume are related by the law:
pVn = C
Make n the subject of the formula. If p = 200 x 103 Pascals , V = 0.002 m3 and C = 33.3 find n.

SOLUTIONS

pVn = C Vn = C/p n log V = log(C/p)

log(C/p) log(C) − log(p) log(33.3) − log(200 x 103)
n= = = = 1.4
log(V) log(V) log(0.002)

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 2

The pressure loss in a pipe pL is related to the flow rate Q by the equation pL = KQn
Make n the subject of the formula. If pL = 150 Pascals , Q = 0.02 m3/s and K = 171.5 x 103 find
n.

SOLUTIONS

pL = KQn Qn = pL/K n log Q = log(pL/K)

log(pL/K) log(pL ) − log(K) log(150) − log(171.5 x103)
n= = = = 1.8
log(Q) log(Q) log(0.02)

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2. EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

You don't have to study the theory behind this but it helps to have a full understanding in order to
use it. The following explanation is offered but you can jump straight to the next page if you want
to.

Suppose you had a function of y = f(x) such that the gradient of the function at any point is equal to
the value of the function.
dy
In other words we want a function such that y = f(x) and =y
dx
x2 x3
Such a function is a series y = 1+ x + + 3! note ! means factorial
2! +
If we differentiate this we get:
3
dy 0 +1+ 2x 3x2 4x3 ......... = 1+ x + x2 + x dy
= + + 3! ......... Hence =y
dx 2! 3! 4!
a
2!
( )d ya
dx
a −1 dy
Note that if we differentiate y with respect to x we get dx = ay dx

Since
dy ( ) a
= y it follows that d y = ay a −1y = aya
dx dx

Now consider the function y1 = 1+ z +

(z)2 + (z)3 + .........
2! 3!
3
dy1 1+ z + z + 3z
2
= y1 Let z = ax dy1 dy1
dz = 2! 3!.......... d(ax)= y 1 = ay1
( )
dx
dy1 d ya a a
If we compare = ay we see that if y = y1 they are the same. Making this the
= ay1 and dx
dx
case it follows that y1 = ya = 1 + ax +
(ax)2 + (ax)3 .........
2! 3!
1 1
If we put a = 1/x then y1/x = 1+1+ + .........
2! 3!
This series may be evaluated. It is not exact but to 3 significant figures it is 2.718.This number is a
very important number and it is denoted 'e' and called the exponential.
x2 x3
1/x x =1+x+ + 3! .........
y = e and so y = e
2!
x x 2 + x3
In summary we have shown the following: e = 1 + x + ......... e = 2.718
2! 3!
dy
If y = ex then = ex and extending this if y = eax then dy = aeax
dx dx
ax eax
= +C
Integration being the reverse process it follows that  e a

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 Plot of ex and e-x
3. NATURAL LOGARITHMS

If we use logarithms to the base of e we now see that y = loge x. The loge is called Naperian
Logarithm after Robert Napier but is more commonly called the natural logarithm and denoted ln.
In engineering, many functions are exponential and the solutions of equations are solved by taking
the natural logarithm.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 3

2π δ
x1
A well-known formula used in the analysis of damped vibrations is =e1-δ 2

x2
Where x1 and x2 are the amplitude of two successive vibrations and δ is the damping ratio.
Calculate δ when x1= 3 mm and x2 = 0.5 mm respectively. Calculate the amplitude reduction
factor and the damping ratio.

SOLUTION
 x  2π δ
Take natural logarithms so that ln  1  =
 x2  1- δ2
Now we can put in the numerical data and solve as follows.
x  3
ln 1  = ln  = ln6 = 1.792
 x2   0.5 
2π δ
1.792 = square both sides
1- δ2
39.478δ2
3.21 = so 1- δ2 = 12.298δ 2
1- δ 2

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13.298δ2 = 1 and δ2 = = 0.075 and δ = 0.075 = 0.274
13.298

4. LINEARISING EQUATIONS WITH LOGARITHMS

Many relationships between two variable quantities are non-linear.

This means that the graph of one plotted against the other is not a
straight line. For example, consider the simple equation:
f(x) = y = x2
If we plot them, we get the curved graph shown.

It is possible to represent a formula like this in a form that

produces a straight-line graph and the simplest way is use
logarithms. If we take logs we get: log(y) = 2 log x
Plotting this we get a straight-line graph as shown. Note
that the gradient is 2.

The general equation y = C xn may be reduced to a

straight line in the same way. Taking logs we have:

log(y) = log(C) + nlog(x)

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This gives a straight line with a gradient n and an intercept C

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WORKED EXAMPLE No. 4

Deduce the relationship between y and x from the graph shown.

SOLUTIONS

The intercept is 0.7 so log(C) = 0.7. Find the antilog and C = 5

The gradient is (3.7 – 0.7)/1 = 3 so n = 3

The equation is y = 5x3

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 5

The graph shows the results of an experiment in which a variables x and y are recorded and
plotted. When log(x) and log(y) are plotted the straight-line graph shown is produced.
Determine the function f(x).

SOLUTION

From the straight line graph we have an intercept of 0.7 and a gradient of (3.7 – 0.7)/1 = 3

φ(x) = 0.7 + 3 log(x) Take antilogs f(x) = 5x3

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 WORKED EXAMPLE No. 6

The graph shows the results of an experiment in which a variables x and y are recorded and
plotted as logs. Determine the function f(x).

SOLUTION

From the straight line graph we have an intercept of 0.845.

The gradient is (2.345– 0.845)/(-15) = - 0.1

φ(x) = 0.845 – 0.1 log(x) Take antilogs f(x) = 7x-0.1

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 1

1. Determine the function f(x) for each of the graphs below,

Answers f(x) = 1.5x2 and f(x) = 0.5x-0.5

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2. When a pulley belt slips on a wheel it is believed the largest force F 1 on one side and the smaller
force F2 on the other side is in the form:
F1 = F2 eµθ

µ is the coefficient of friction which is constant and unknown. θ is the angle of contact.

If an experiment is conducted with various forces and angles to verify this relationship and the
only unknown is µ, how should the data be plotted so that a straight result of the equation is
true? How may the value of µ be found from the straight-line graph?

3. The pressure loss in a given pipe is believed to be related to the flow rate by the formula:
p = kQn
An experiment is conducted and the pressure is measured over a range of flow rates. The results
and plot are as shown.

Process the data and plot it so that a straight line is produced and deduce the values of k and n.
(Answers 0.032 and 1.8 note that you will have to project the graph to find the intercept)

4. When a capacitor C discharges through a resistor R the voltage V at any time t after the start is
related to time t by V = 12(1 – e-t/RC). Make t the subject of the formula. Given RC = 2 seconds
evaluate the time when V = 6 Volts.

(Answers t = -RC ln(1- V/12) and 1.386 s)

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5. HYPERBOLIC FUNCTIONS

These are functions that seem to resemble trigonometric functions. They are used in the solution of
mathematical problems. They should be remembered from their basic definitions which are as
follows.
ex − e−x ex + e−x sinh (x) ex − e−x
sinh (x) = and cosh (x) = and tanh (x) =
2 2 cosh (x) ex + e −x
These are pronounced shine, cosh and then respectively.

We can use the expansion for ex to show that:

 x2 x 3   x 2 x3  2x3 2x5
1+ x + 2x + + + ....
+   .. - 1−x + − ..... 3! 5!
sinh (x) =  2! 3! 2! 3! =
2 2
5
x 3 x
sinh(x) = x + + 5! + ....
3!
 x 2 x3   2x2 2x4
x 2 x3 
1+ x + + ....
+  + 1− x+ − .....


cosh (x) =  2! 3!  2! 3!  = 2!

2 + 4! +
2 2
x 2 x4
cosh(x) = 1+ + 4! + ....
2!
The graphs of the two functions are shown.

Further work would show that many hyperbolic functions

are similar to trigonometric functions and the table shows
this.

Hyperbolic function Trigonometric function

cosh(x) + sinh(x) = ex

cosh(x) - sinh(x) = e-x

dy dy
y = sinh(x) then = cosh(x) y = sin(x) then = cos(x)
dx dx
dy dy
If y = cosh(x) then = sinh(x) If y = cos(x) then = −sin(x)
dx dx

 sinh(x)dx = cosh(x) + C  sin(x)dx = - cosh(x) + C

cosh(x)dx = sinh(x) + C cos(x)dx = sin(x) + C
cosh2 (x) + sinh2 (x) = 1 cos2 (x) + sin2 (x) = 1

sinh(A±B) = sinh(A) cosh(B) ± cosh(A) sinh(B) sin(A ± B) = sin(A) cos(B) ± cos(A) sin(B)

cosh(A±B) = cosh(A) cosh(B) ± sinh(A) sinh(B) cos(A ± B) = cos(A) cos(B) m sin(A) sin(B)

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 WORKED EXAMPLE No. 7

2 4
Using the definition cosh(x) = 1+x +x +evaluate cosh(3) to 2 decimal places.
2! 4!

SOLUTION
x2 x4 32 34 36 38 310 312
cosh(x) = 1 + + + .... = 1 + + + + + .+ ..
2! 4! 2! 4! 6! 8! 10! 12!
= 1 + 4.5 + 3.375 + 1.0125 + 0.1627 + 0.0163 + 0.0011
= 10.07

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 8

Show from first principles that sinh(A+B) = sinh(A) cosh(B) + cosh(A) sinh(B)

SOLUTION
−x −x
e −e e+e
x x
sinh (x) = and cosh (x) =
2 2
 e A − e−A  e B + e−B   e A + e −A  e B − e−B 
sinh(A) cosh(B) + cosh(A) sinh(B) =   +  
 2  2   2  2 
-A −B 
e e + e e −B
e e + e e  e e −e e + e e − e e
−B −B
A B A -A B -A A B A -A B

= − + 
 4 4   4 4 
e e + e e 
A B A −B  e A+B
+e A-B   e ( A+B )
+e - ( A+B ) 
=  =  =  = sinh(A + B)
 2   2   2 

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 2

1. Show from first principles that cosh(A+B) = cosh(A) cosh(B) + sinh(A) sinh(B)

x3 x5
2. Using the definition sinh(x) = x + + +evaluate sinh(1) to 3 decimal places. (1.175)
3! 5!

x2 x 4
3. Using the definition cosh(x) = 1+ + +evaluate cosh (2) to 3 decimal places. (3.762)
2! 4!

© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 10
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