DOMAIN AND RANGE OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The student is expected to determine the domain and range of exponential

A.9A functions of the form f(x) = abx and represent the domain and range using
inequalities.

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"c domainc ) c c .(-#)(c #,c -"c ,-c ) c #(*.-c /&.,c -"-c +c .,c )+c -"c #(*((-c /+#&Ic
"crangec) cc .(-#)(c#,c-"c,-c) c).-*.-c/&.,c )+c-"c*((-c/+#&Ic)+c(2c1*)((-#&c
.(-#)(JcP.QcCc.Jc-"c)'#(c#,c-"c,-c) c&&c+&c(.'+,Ic
"c+(!Jc")0/+Jc#,c).(c2c-"c")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-c Domain
) c-"c!+*"c) cP.QIc,c-"c!+*"c-)c#(-# 2c-"c+(!c) cP.Qc )+c(2c1*)((-#&c .(-#)(Jc
(cP.QI P.QcCc.Jc-"c)'#(c#,c-"c,-c) c
&&c+&c(.'+,I
ƺLjȱǀȱ.ȱǀȱLj
f (x) = 2x + 2
Asymptote: y = 2, a > 0 Range
Range does not include the
)+c(2c1*)((-#&c .(-#)(Jc
asymptote. All real numbers
greater than ________.
P.QcCc.Jc-"c+(!c#,c-"c,-c) c
+&c(.'+,c)/c)+c&)0c-"c
g(x) = –(2)x – 3 – 1 ")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-Jc/cCcJc.-c
Asymptote: y = –1, a < 0 ),c()-c#(&.cJc-"c/&.c) c
Range does not include the
-"c,2'*-)-I
asymptote. All real numbers
less than ________. cȱǁȱŖDZȱP.Ǽȱǁȱ
ccDc5KcP.QcDc

)0/+Jc 0"(c (c 1*)((-#&c .(-#)(c #,c .,c -)c ')&c

+&`0)+&c,#-.-#)(,Jc-"(c-"c)'#(c(c+(!c(cc+,-+#-c-)c(.'+,c-"-c'%c,(,c
˜›ȱ ‘Žȱ œ’žŠ’˜—ǯȱ —ȱ ‘ŽœŽȱ ŒŠœŽœǰȱ ‘Žȱ ˜–Š’—ȱ ˜›ȱ ›Š—Žȱ ŒŠ—ȱ ‹Žȱ  ›’ĴȱŽ—ȱ žœ’—ȱ ’—ŽšžŠ•’’Žœȱ ˜›ȱ Šȱ
continuousc#(-+/&I

EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1:c "-c+c-"c)'#(c(c+(!c) cP.QcCc6I:P8Q.c?c9N

STEP 1c +*"c-"c .(-#)(c-)c/#,.&&2c#(,*-c-"c*),,#&c

+(!I
Q .(-#)(c/&.,c#(+,c,c.c#(+,,I
Q "+c**+,c-)ccc")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-c(+c
/cCc9I
Q "c/&.c) cc#,c*),#-#/I
The possible range is h(x) > 4.

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 STEP 2ȱ ȱœŽȱ‘Žȱ™Š›Š–ŽŽ›œȱ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŽšžŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱŒ˜—ęȱ›–ȱ‘Žȱ•˜ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ‘ŽȱŠœ¢–™˜Žǯ
Q (cP.QJccCc9Ic".,Jc-"c")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-c#,E/cCc9I
Q (cP.QJccCc6I:c0"#"c#,c!+-+c-"(c5I
The horizontal asymptote is y = 4.
STEP 3c --c-"c)'#(c(c+(!c) c-"c .(-#)(I
The domain of h(x) is all real numbers.
The range of h(x) is all real numbers greater than 4, or h(x) > 4.

EXAMPLE 2:ȱ ‘Š›—ŽĴȱŽȱ ™ž›Œ‘ŠœŽȱ Šȱ —Ž ȱ ŸŽ‘’Œ•Žǯȱ Ž‘’Œ•Žœȱ

Ž™›ŽŒ’ŠŽǰȱ˜›ȱ•˜œŽȱŸŠ•žŽȱ˜ŸŽ›ȱ’–Žǯȱ‘Š›—ŽĴȱŽȂœȱŸŽ‘’Œ•ŽȱŽ™›ŽŒ’ŠŽœȱ
)+#(!c -)c -"c .(-#)(c c 0"),c !+*"c #,c ,")0(Ic "-c #,c -"c
)'#(c(c+(!c) cN

STEP 1c -+'#(c(2c&#'#-,c)(c-"c#(*((-c/+#&Jc-#'Jc
)+c*((-c/+#&Jc/&.Ic
Q (c-"#,c,#-.-#)(Jc-#'c#,c()(`(!-#/Ic -c(cc5c)+c
(2c+&c(.'+c!+-+c-"(c5Jc,#(c-#'c#,c!#/(c
’—ȱ¢ŽŠ›œȱœ’—ŒŽȱ‘Š›—ŽĴȱŽȱ™ž›Œ‘ŠœŽȱ‘ŽȱŸŽ‘’Œ•Žǯ
Q —ȱ‘’œȱœ’žŠ’˜—ǰȱ‘ŽȱŸŠ•žŽȱ˜ȱ‘Š›—ŽĴȱŽȂœȱŒŠ›ȱ ‘Ž—ȱ
#-c0,c+(c(0cP-#'cCc5Qc**+,c-)ccF6=J:55Ic
".,Jc#-c(()-c1c-"#,c/&.Ic"c/&.c0#&&c
&,)c(/+cc&,,c-"(cF5I
Both variables are limited to non-negative
numbers (y-axis and Quadrant I) in this
situation.
YOU TRY IT!
STEP 2c --c -"c )'#(c ) c c )+c -"#,c ,#-.-#)(Jc %*#(!c #(c "c -&c )(-#(,c ,)'c *)#(-,c )(c
'#(c-"c)(,-+#(-,c&+2c),+/I -"c!+*"c) c(c1*)((-#&c .(-#)(Ic
Q .ȱŒŠ—ȱ‹ŽȱŠ—¢ȱ›ŽŠ•ȱ—ž–‹Ž›ȱ›ŽŠŽ›ȱ‘Š—ȱ˜›ȱŽšžŠ•ȱ "-c#,c-"c+(!c) c-"c .(-#)(N
-)c5I
 
The domain of the function in this situation
is x ≥ 0. 5 ;
STEP 3cc --c -"c +(!c ) c -"c .(-#)(c )+c -"#,c ,#-.-#)(Jc 6 8
%*#(!c#(c'#(c-"c)(,-+#(-,c&+2c),+/I 5 7 6I:
Q /Jc0"#"c+*+,(-,c-"c .(-#)(c/&.,c )+c 8 5I<:
P.QJc(cc(2c+&c(.'+c!+-+c-"(c5c(c
&,,c-"(c)+c#(&.#(!c6=J:55I 9 5I8<:

The range of the function in this situation is &.c) cKc]]]]]]]]]]]]ccKc]]]]]]]]]]]]

0 < y ≤ 18,500.
.(-#)(Kc]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

(!Kc]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

184 A L G E B R A 1 T E K S C O M PA N I O N G U I D E © Cosenza & Associates, LLC

EXAMPLE 3:c "c!+*"c) cc*+-c) c1*)((-#&c .(-#)(c#c#,c,")0(Ic
›’Žȱ‘Žȱ˜–Š’—ȱŠ—ȱ›Š—Žȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ™Š›ȱœ‘˜ —ȱžœ’—ȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’’Žœǯ

STEP 1c )-c(2c/+-#&c)+c")+#3)(-&c&#'#-,c,."c,c(*)#(-,c
)+c,2'*-)-,I
Q ˜™Ž—ȱŽ—™˜’—ȱŠȱǻƺŘǰȱŞǼ
Q ")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-c-c/ȱƽȱƺŞ
STEP 2c -+'#(c(2c+,-+#-#)(,c +)'c-"c)*(c(*)#(-I
Q "+c+c()c.`/&.,c-)c-"c& -c) c-"c)*(c(`
™˜’—ǯȱ‘Žȱ•˜ Ž›ȱ•’–’ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ˜–Š’—ȱ’œȱƺŘǯȱ’—ŒŽȱ
‘ŽȱŽ—™˜’—ȱ’œȱ˜™Ž—ǰȱƺŘȱ’œȱ—˜ȱ’—Œ•žŽȱ’—ȱ‘Žȱ
)'#(I
Q "+c+c()c .(-#)(c/&.,c)/c-"c(*)#(-Jc,)c-"c.**+c&#'#-c) c-"c+(!c#,c
=Ic#(c-"c(*)#(-c#,c)*(Jc=c#,c()-c#(&.c#(c-"c+(!I
−2, not inclusive, is the lower limit of the domain.
8, not inclusive, is the upper limit of the range.
STEP 3ȱ ŽŽ›–’—Žȱ‘˜ ȱ‘ŽȱŠœ¢–™˜ŽȱŠěȱŽŒœȱ‘Žȱ˜–Š’—ȱŠ—ȱ›Š—Žǯ
Q "c")+#3)(-&c,2'*-)-c#,c-"c&)0+c&#'#-c) c-"c+(!c,#(c-"c .(-#)(c/&.,c
 ’••ȱŠ™™›˜ŠŒ‘ǰȱ‹žȱ—ŽŸŽ›ȱŽšžŠ•ǰȱ‘Žȱ/`/&.c) c-"c,2'*-)-I
Q "c)'#(c)(-#(.,c-)c-"c+#!"-c0#-").-c&#'#-I
−8, not inclusive, is the lower limit of the range.
STEP 4ȱ ›’Žȱ‘Žȱ˜–Š’—ȱžœ’—ȱ‘Žȱ•˜ Ž›ȱ•’–’ǰȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’’ŽœǰȱŠ—ȱ‘Žȱž™™Ž›ȱ•’–’ǯȱȱ‘Žȱ•’–’ȱ’œȱ
’—Œ•žŽȱ’—ȱ‘Žȱ˜–Š’—ǰȱ‹Žȱœž›Žȱ‘Žȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’¢ȱŒ˜—Š’—œȱȃ˜›ȱŽšžŠ•ȱ˜ǯȄ
−2 < x
STEP 5ȱ ›’Žȱ‘Žȱ›Š—Žȱžœ’—ȱ‘Žȱ•˜ Ž›ȱ•’–’ǰȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’’ŽœǰȱŠ—ȱ‘Žȱž™™Ž›ȱ•’–’ǯȱȱ‘Žȱ•’–’ȱ’œȱ
’—Œ•žŽȱ’—ȱ‘Žȱ›Š—Žǰȱ‹Žȱœž›Žȱ‘Žȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’¢ȱŒ˜—Š’—œȱȃ˜›ȱŽšžŠ•ȱ˜ǯȄ
−8 < y < 8

PRACTICE
%(E'+)*%$)E2B6E$*/E*E%#$E$E($E%(EE+$*%$E+)$E$'+"*)E)E&&(%&(*<
6
1. P.QcCca7P8Q.c?c7c0"(c.ȱǂȱŚ 3. "c-&c&)0c,")0,c*)#(-,c-"-c
&)(!c-)c-"c .(-#)(cP.QI
 `6 5 6 7
6
45 a
8 6 8 >

2.
6
P.QcCc85 a7PQ .

© Cosenza & Associates, LLC E X P O N E N T I A L F U N C T I O N S A N D E Q U AT I O N S 185

 4. 5.

6. "c!+*"c&)0c,")0,cc .(-#)(c 9. "c!+*"c) c(c1*)((-#&c .(-#)(c#,c

+*+,(-#(!c-"c*)*.&-#)(c) c'#Jc/Jc#(c ,")0(c&)0I
c!+)0#(!c-)0(c)/+cc(.'+c) c2+,Jc
.ǯȱ‘Šȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’¢ȱ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—œȱ‘Žȱ›Š—Žȱ˜ȱ
-"c*)*.&-#)(c) c'#c#(c-"c,#-.-#)(N

"#"c) c-"c )&&)0#(!c,--'(-,c#,c-+.c

).-c-"c .(-#)(Nc

7. "c/)&.'JcJc) c#+c+'#(#(!c#(c(c A "c+(!c) c-"c .(-#)(c#,c-"c

’—ĚȱŠŽȱ‹Š••˜˜—ȱŒŠ—ȱ‹Žȱ–˜Ž•Žȱ‹¢ȱ c ,-c) c&&c+&c(.'+,I
-"c .(-#)(ccCc6J555P5I=:Q.c0"+c. B "c)'#(c) c-"c .(-#)(c#,c-"c
+*+,(-,c-"c(.'+c) c2,c-"-c"/c c ,-c) c&&c+&c(.'+,c&,,c-"(c9I
™ŠœœŽȱœ’—ŒŽȱ’—ĚȱŠ’—ȱ‘Žȱ‹Š••˜˜—ǯȱ‘Šȱ’œȱ C "c+(!c) c-"c .(-#)(c#,c-"c
-"c+,)(&c)'#(c )+c-"c,#-.-#)(N c ,-c) c&&c+&c(.'+,c&,,c-"(c9I
D "c)'#(c) c-"c .(-#)(c#,c-"c
c ,-c) c&&c+&c(.'+,I
8. "c .(-#)(cP&QcCc;:J555P6I5:Q.c(cc
.,c-)c')&c-"c*)*.&-#)(c) cc#-2c
)+c.Jc-"c(.'+c2+,c-"-c"/c*,,c
œ’—ŒŽȱŘŖŖŖǯȱ‘Šȱ’—ŽšžŠ•’¢ȱ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—œȱ‘Žȱ
+,)(&c+(!c) c-"c .(-#)(c,c)(c
-"c,#-.-#)(N

186 A L G E B R A 1 T E K S C O M PA N I O N G U I D E © Cosenza & Associates, LLC