LESSON 3.A.

Definition of Exponential Functions, Exponential

Equation and Exponential Inequalities

Performance standard:
 Applies the concepts of inverse functions, exponential functions

 Formulates and solve real-life problems with precision and accuracy

Specific Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the learners are expected to:
 define exponential function, exponential equation, and exponential
inequalities
 solve exponential equation and exponential inequalities
 graph exponential equation and exponential inequalities

“The uses of exponential capacity can be found in the field of

science, material science, financial matters, banking and trade and
numerous others.

Exponential capacities are fundamentally used to display

exponential development and rot.

Calculations of an accumulating funds intrigue and deterioration

esteem utilize exponential capacities.”

Activity 1. Let’s Try this!

1. Change the following percent forms to decimal forms.

a. 10%
b. 6.25%
c. 75%
d. 36.12%
2. Crocodile population increases by 35% per year. Find the rate of
change.

3. Each day you forget ¼ of the material you will use for the
experiment in science. Find the rate of change.
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION
The term exponential is often associated with any phenomenon
characterized by rapid growth with alarming consequences.

An exponential function is defined by the rule

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 ≠ 1
In this notation, a is the base and x is the exponent.
(Next Century Mathematics, 2016)

Example 1: Research facility discoveries show that the SARS-causing

corona infection, after arriving at development, partitions itself into two
after consistently. What number of cells of the infection will be available
following 1 day if with only one cell?

SOLUTION:

Let t=number of hours elapsed

f(t) =number of corona virus present after t hours elapsed

t 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
f(t) 𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟏 𝟒 = 𝟐𝟐 𝟖 = 𝟐𝟑 𝟏𝟔 = 𝟐𝟒 𝟑𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓 𝟔𝟒 = 𝟐𝟔

The table shows a pattern: as t increase by 1, f(t) increases rapidly by2𝑡 . In

symbols,

𝑓 𝑡 = 2𝑡
Hence, if t=24 hours (1 day),𝑓 24 = 224 = 16,777,216.

In only 1 day, an infection that begins as a single day, an infection that

begins as a single cell can build introduction a huge or million number of
cells, every one of which has a similar capacity to replicate exponentially.
The function 𝑓 𝑡 = 2𝑡 is an example of exponential function.

Definition of Exponential Function

An exponential function is a function defined by
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥
Where 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑎 ≠ 1.

(Next Century Mathematics, 2016)

Example: Determine whether the given function represented by its

equation is an exponential function or not.

a. 𝑦 = 8𝑥
b. 𝑦 = 2.56𝑥
c. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3.5
d. 𝑦 = 53𝑥
e. 𝑦 = 𝑥8
f. 𝑦 = −4 𝑥

Solution:
a. The function 𝑦 = 8𝑥 is an exponential function, where a=8, with
exponent x.
b. The function 𝑦 = 2.56𝑥 is an exponential function, where a=2.5 with
exponent 6x.
c. The function 𝑦 = 𝑥 3.5 is not an exponential since the exponent is a
fixed value.
d. The function 𝑦 = 53𝑥 is an exponential function, where a=5 with
exponent 3x.
e. The function 𝑦 = 𝑥 8 is not an exponential function since the
exponent is a fixed value.
f. The function 𝑦 = −4 𝑥 is not an exponential function because a=-4
is not greater than 0.

EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS
An exponential equation in one variable is an equation having a
variable in the exponent. The following are examples of exponential
equations:
1
16−𝑥 =
64

22𝑥−1 = 43𝑥+2
 2
3𝑥 = 92𝑥−1

22 5𝑥+1 = 500

In solving exponential equations, the equating-exponents property

is used.

The Property of Equality for Exponential Exponents

Let a, b, and c be real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0. Then,
𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎𝑐
If and only if b=c.

The Laws of Exponents are recalled here for easy reference.

Law of Exponents

For any numbers a and b, and any nonzero real numbers m

and n.

i. 𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛

ii. 𝑎𝑏 𝑛
= 𝑎𝑛 𝑏 𝑛

iii. 𝑎𝑚 𝑛
= 𝑎𝑚𝑛

𝑎𝑚
iv. = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 , 𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎𝑛

𝑎 𝑛 𝑎𝑛
v. = 𝑏𝑛 , 𝑏 ≠ 0
𝑏

vi. 𝑎0 = 1

Example 1: Solve 42𝑛 = 8

SOLUTION:
To solve the given equation, express both side of the equation in
exponential form using the same base. Then, solve for n using the
properties stated above. Thus we have:

22 2𝑛 = 23
 24𝑛 = 23 Power Rule

4𝑛 = 3 Property of equality

3 Dividing both sides by 4

𝑛=
4

1 2𝑥−2
Example 2: Solve ∙ 625𝑥 = 125
125

Solution:

1 2𝑥−2
Expressing each term as an
∙ 54𝑥 = 53 exponential expression
53

5−3 2𝑥−2
∙ 54𝑥 = 53 Negative exponent rule

5−6𝑥+6 ∙ 54𝑥 = 53 Power rule

5−6𝑥+6+4𝑥 = 53 Product rule

−2𝑥 + 6 = 3

−2𝑥 = −3 Subtracting 6 from both sides

3 Dividing both sides by -2

𝑥=
2

Example 3: Solve each exponential equation.

1
a. 16−𝑥 = 64

b. 22𝑥−1 = 43𝑥+2
2
c. 3𝑥 = 92𝑥−1

d. 22 5𝑥+1 = 500
3
e. 𝑎4 = 81
Solution:
The Property of Equality for Exponential Equation, also known as the
Equating-Exponents property, states that in an exponential equation, if the
bases are equal, the exponents must also be equal, or, if the exponents
are equal, the bases must also be equal.
1
a. 16−𝑥 = 64
42 −𝑥 = 64 −1
4−2𝑥 = 43 −1
4−2𝑥 = 4−3
−2𝑥 = −3
3
𝑥=
2
3
The solution set is 2 .

CHECK:
3 1 1 1
16−2 = 3 = 3
=
4 64
162

b. 22𝑥−1 = 43𝑥+2
22𝑥−1 = 22 3𝑥+2
22𝑥−1 = 26𝑥+4
2𝑥 − 1 = 6𝑥 + 4
−4𝑥 = 5
5
𝑥=−
4
5
The solution set is − 4 .

CHECK:
5 5
22 − −1
4 = 43 −4 +2
7 7
2−2 = 4−4
7 7
2−2 = 22 −4
7 7
2−2 = 2−2
2
c. 3𝑥 = 92𝑥−1
2
3𝑥 = 32 2𝑥−1
2
3𝑥 = 34𝑥−2
𝑥 2 = 4𝑥 − 2
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 2 = 0
4 ± −4 2 − 4 1 2
𝑥=
2 1
𝑥 =2± 2
 The solution set is 2 − 2, 2 + 2 .

d. 22 5𝑥+1 = 500
22 5𝑥+1 = 4 125
4 5𝑥+1 = 4 53
𝑥+1=3
𝑥=2
The solution set is 2 .

3
e. 𝑎4 = 81
3
𝑎4 = 34
3
𝑎4 = 34 1
3 4 4
𝑎4∙∙3 = 34∙∙3
16
𝑎 = 33
16
The solution set is 3 3

EXPONENTIAL INEQUALITY
An inequality in one variable having a variable in the exponent to
as exponential inequality. Examples of exponential inequalities are:

3𝑥+1 > 243

24𝑥+1 ≤ 512

44𝑥 < 82𝑥+2

𝑥−2
27𝑥+2 ≠ 3

Congratulations, you have made it this far. You can always review your answers
and see where you did wrong.
Let’s remember these:

 An exponential function is defined by the rule

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 > 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 ≠ 1
 An exponential equation in one variable is an equation having a variable in the
exponent.
 An inequality in one variable having a variable in the exponent is referred to as
exponential inequality.