GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Name of Learner: ______________________ Grade Level: _______________

Section: ______________________________ Date: _____________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Solving Exponential Equations and Inequalities
Background Information for Learners
In solving exponential equation, remember the property of equality for exponential
functions that if the base b is a positive number other than 1, then 𝑏 𝑥 = 𝑏 𝑦 if and only
if 𝑥 = 𝑦.
Steps in Solving Exponential Equation
A. Rewrite both sides of the equation using the same base.
B. Remove the bases and set the exponents equal to each other.
C. Simplify and solve for the x variable.

On the other hand, an exponential inequality is an inequality involving exponential

expressions. It is very important to consider the properties of exponential inequalities
which are indicated on the table.
If 𝑏 > 1 If 0 < 𝑏 < 1
then 𝑏 𝑥 > 𝑏 𝑦 if and only if 𝑥 > 𝑦 then 𝑏 𝑥 > 𝑏 𝑦 if and only if 𝑥 < 𝑦
and 𝑏 𝑥 < 𝑏 𝑦 if and only if 𝑥 < 𝑦 and 𝑏 𝑥 < 𝑏 𝑦 if and only if 𝑥 > 𝑦

Steps in solving exponential inequality

A. Rewrite the inequality using the same base.
B. Remove the bases and set the exponents.
C. Reverse the inequality sign if the base is greater 0 but less than. If the base is
greater 1, the direction of inequality sign is retained.
D. Simplify and solve for the x variable.

Learning Competency
The learner solves exponential equations and inequalities. M11GM-Ie-f-1

Directions/Instructions
Below are the solved examples of exponential equation and inequalities, which will be
your basis in answering the exercises.
Solve 9𝑥−3 = 3𝑥+7 . 1
Solve 23𝑥+4 > 32 1 3𝑥+1 1 𝑥+2
Solve ( ) 2
>( ) 4
9 𝑥−3
=3 𝑥+7 1 3𝑥+1 1 𝑥+2
1 ( ) >( )
(3) 2(𝑥−3)
= 3𝑥+7 23𝑥+4 > 2 4
32 1 3𝑥+1
1 𝑥+2
2(𝑥 − 3) = 𝑥 + 7 1
23𝑥+4 > 5 ( ) > ( 2)
2𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 + 7 2 2 2
𝑥 = 13 23𝑥+4 > 2−5 1 3𝑥+1 1 2(𝑥+2)
( ) >( )
3𝑥 + 4 > −5 2 2
3𝑥 > −9 1 3𝑥+1 1 2𝑥+4
𝑥 > −3 ( ) >( )
2 2
3𝑥 + 1 < 2𝑥 + 4
𝑥<3
EXERCISE 1. “MAKE AN ANALYSIS”
Directions: Make an analysis on the solutions presented in each item.
1. Ligaya and Mutya are solving 42𝑥 = 2𝑥+6 .
LIGAYA’S SOLUTION MUTYA’S SOLUTION
42𝑥 = 2𝑥+6 42𝑥 = 2𝑥+6
22(2𝑥) = 2𝑥+6 2𝑥 = 𝑥 + 6
4𝑥 = 𝑥 + 6 2𝑥 − 𝑥 =𝑥+6−𝑥
3𝑥 = 6 𝑥=6
𝑥=2
Question: Did anyone arrived with the correct answer? If there is, identify whose
solution is right and explain why his/her solution is the correct one.
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1 𝑥+3
2. Mario and Antonio are solving 64 = 8𝑥−5 .
MARIO’S SOLUTION ANTONIO’S SOLUTION
1 𝑥+3 1 𝑥+3
= 8𝑥−5 = 8𝑥−5
64 64
1 𝑥+3 1 𝑥+3
26
= 23(𝑥−5) 26
= 23(𝑥−5)
26(𝑥+3) = 23𝑥−15 2−6(𝑥+3) = 23𝑥−15
6𝑥 + 18 = 3𝑥 − 15 −6𝑥 − 18 = 3𝑥 − 15
3𝑥 = −33 −3 = 9𝑥
1
𝑥 = −11 𝑥 = −3

Question: Did anyone arrived with the correct answer? If there is, identify whose
solution is right and explain why his/her solution is the correct one.
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3. Lorie and Daniel are solving 0.53𝑥+5 ≥ 0.25𝑥−2 .
LORIE’S SOLUTION DANIEL’S SOLUTION
0.53𝑥+5 ≥ 0.25𝑥−2 0.53𝑥+5 ≥ 0.25𝑥−2
0.53𝑥+5 ≥ 0.52(𝑥−2) 0.53𝑥+5 ≥ 0.52(𝑥−2)
3𝑥 + 5 ≥ 2𝑥 − 4 3𝑥 + 5 ≤ 2𝑥 − 4
𝑥 ≥ −9 𝑥 ≤ −9
Question: Did anyone arrived with the correct answer? If there is, identify whose
solution is right and explain why his/her solution is the correct one.
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 3 2𝑥−2 125 𝑥+2
4. Eva and Dave are solving (5) ≥ ( 27 ) .
EVAS’S SOLUTION DAVE’S SOLUTION
3 2𝑥−2 125 𝑥+2 3 2𝑥−2 125 𝑥+2
( ) ≥( ) ( ) ≥( )
5 27 5 27
3 2𝑥−2 5 3(𝑥+2) 3 2𝑥−2 5 3(𝑥+2)
( ) ≥( ) ( ) ≥( )
5 3 5 3
2𝑥−2
3 3 −3(𝑥+2) 3 2𝑥−2
3 −3(𝑥+2)
( ) ≥( ) ( ) ≥( )
5 5 5 5
2𝑥 − 2 ≥ −3𝑥 − 6 2𝑥 − 2 ≤ −3𝑥 − 6
4 4
−5 ≥ 𝑥 ≤𝑥
5
Question: Did anyone arrived with the correct answer? If there is, identify whose
solution is right and explain why his/her solution is the correct one.
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EXERCISE 2. “HOW DID YOU GET ME?”

Solve each of the following exponential equations and inequalities. Your task is to
show the step-by-step process on how it arrive with the given answer.
1. 625𝑥−1 = 25𝑥+5 1 2𝑥
2. ( ) = 216𝑥−5
6

Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟕 Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟑
3. 0.43𝑥+2 > 0.0643−2𝑥 1 3𝑥−3
4. (49) ≤ 343𝑥+2

𝟕
Answer: 𝒙 < 𝟗
Answer: 𝒙 ≥ 𝟎
EXERCISE 3. “SOLVE ME”
A. Solve the following exponential equation and inequalities.
[3 points each]
1 𝑥−2 1 1
1. 93𝑥−8 = ( ) Hint: can be written as or 9−2
81 81 92
2. 162𝑥−4 ≥ 32𝑥−1

B. Solve the following worded problems involving exponential equations.

[3 points each]
1. At t = 0, there were initially 960 grams of an isotope. The half-life of an
isotope is 30 hours. How much time has passed when only 60 grams of
the isotope were left?
2. It is 8 o’clock in the morning when a scientist starts examining 25 samples
of germs that triples every 4 hours. What time of the day will he found out
that the initial 25 germs had already grown to 675?

Rubric for Scoring

For Exercise 1
CRITERIA 4 POINTS 3 POINTS 2 POINTS 1 POINT
Explanation Explanation Explanation Explanation Explanation is
of solution clearly indicates indicates indicates a present but
procedures are procedures minimal demonstrates
understood at an are understanding a lack of
advanced level understood of procedure understanding
POSSIBLE TOTAL POINTS: 16

For exercise 2
CRITERIA 4 POINTS 3 POINTS 2 POINTS 1 POINT
Equation Initial equation Initial equation Incorrect solution Partially
Solution and all steps and most of the started
are shown steps are Arrived at the showing the
shown. correct/incorrect solution, but
Arrived at the answer did not finish
correct Arrived at the it.
answer correct answer
POSSIBLE TOTAL POINTS: 16

Closure
What mathematical concept did you use to solve exponential equations and
inequalities?
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References
Verzosa, D. et. Al. (2016). General Mathematics. Lexicon Press Inc.
https://www.mathwarehouse.com/algebra/exponents/solve-exponential-equations-
how-to.php
https://www.mathemania.com/lesson/exponential-inequalities/
Answer Key
EXERCISE 1
1. Ligaya is correct because she rewrite the equation with the same base before
setting the exponents equal to each other. Mutya’s solution is incorrect. Mutya
should rewrite both sides of the equations as powers of the same base before
computing the value of x. The correct answer is 𝑥 = 2, which was obtained by
Ligaya.
2. Antonio is correct and Mario is not. Antonio used the law of negative exponent
1 𝑥+3
which Mario failed to do when he transformed = 23(𝑥−5) to 26(𝑥+3) =
26
1
23𝑥−15 . The correct answer was obtained by Antonio which is 𝑥 = − 3.
3. Daniel is correct and Lorie is not. It is right to reverse the direction of inequality
sign since the base is less than 1. The correct answer is
𝑥 ≤ −9, which was attained by Daniel.
4. No one got the correct answer. Eva should have reversed the direction of the
inequality sign. Dave reversed the inequality sign but failed in simplifying his
3 2𝑥−2 125 𝑥+2 4
answer. The correct solution for the inequality (5) ≥ ( 27 ) is ≥ − 5.
EXERCISE 2
1. 625𝑥−1 = 25𝑥+5 1 2𝑥
3(𝑥−1) 2(𝑥+5)
2. ( ) = 216𝑥−5
5 =5 6
1 2𝑥 1 −3(𝑥−5)
3(𝑥 − 1) = 2(𝑥 + 5) 6−1(2𝑥) = 63(𝑥−5) or ( ) =( )
6 6
3𝑥 − 3 = 2𝑥 + 10 −1(2𝑥) = 3(𝑥 − 5) 2𝑥 = −3(𝑥 − 5)
𝑥=7 −2𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 15 2𝑥 = −3𝑥 + 15
𝑥=3 𝑥=3
Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟕 Answer: 𝒙 = 𝟑
3. 0.43𝑥+2 > 0.0643−2𝑥 1 3𝑥−3
4. ( ) ≤ 343𝑥+2
0.43𝑥+2 > 0.43(3−2𝑥) 49
3𝑥 + 2 < 3(3 − 2𝑥) 1 3𝑥−3
( 2) ≤ 73(𝑥+2)
3𝑥 + 2 < 9 − 6𝑥 7
9𝑥 < 7 7−2(3𝑥−3) ≤ 73(𝑥+2)
7 −2(3𝑥 − 3) ≤ 3(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥< −6𝑥 + 6 ≤ 3𝑥 + 6
9
0 ≤ 9𝑥
0≤𝑥
𝟕 Answer: 𝒙 ≥ 𝟎
Answer: 𝒙 <
𝟗

EXERCISE 3
A.
2 11 2
1. 𝑥 = 2 5 𝑜𝑟 2.4 2. 𝑥 ≥ 3 𝑜𝑟 3 3 𝑜𝑟 3.6
B.
1. t = 120 hours
2. t = 12 hours, therefore, the germs had grown to 675 at 8 o’clock pm.

Prepared by:
CINDY L. AQUINO
Luna General Comprehensive High School
Luna, Isabela