Exponential and logarithmic functions - arithmetic sequences and series

1. Professor Vinculum investigated the migration season of the Bulbul bird from their
natural wetlands to a warmer climate.
He found that during the migration season their population, 𝑃 could be modelled by 𝑃 = 1350 +
400(1.25)−𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 0 , where 𝑡 is the number of days since the start of the migration season.
(a.i) Find the population of the Bulbul birds at the start of the migration season. [1]
(a.ii) Find the population of the Bulbul birds after 5 days. [2]
(b) Calculate the time taken for the population to decrease below 1400. [2]
(c) According to this model, find the smallest possible population of Bulbul birds during
the migration season. [1]

2. The intensity level of sound, 𝐿 measured in decibels (dB), is a function of the sound intensity, 𝑆
watts per square metre (W m−2). The intensity level is given by the following formula.
𝐿 = 10 log10 (𝑆 × 1012 ), 𝑆 ≥ 0.
(a) An orchestra has a sound intensity of 6.4 × 10−3 W m−2 . Calculate the intensity level, 𝐿 of the
orchestra. [2]
(b) A rock concert has an intensity level of 112 dB. Find the sound intensity, 𝑆. [2]

3. The Osaka Tigers basketball team play in a multilevel stadium.

The most expensive tickets are in the first row. The ticket price, in Yen (¥), for each row forms an
arithmetic sequence. Prices for the first three rows are shown in the following table.
 (a) Write down the value of the common difference, 𝑑 [1]
(b) Calculate the price of a ticket in the 16th row. [2]
(c) Find the total cost of buying 2 tickets in each of the first 16 rows. [3]

4. It is believed that the power 𝑃 of a signal at a point 𝑑 km from an antenna is inversely

proportional to 𝑑𝑛 where 𝑛 ∈ ℤ+ .
The value of 𝑃 is recorded at distances of 1 𝑚 to 5 𝑚 and the values of log10 𝑑 and log10 𝑃 are
plotted on the graph below.

(a) Explain why this graph indicates that 𝑃 is inversely proportional to 𝑑𝑛 . [2]
The values of log10 𝑑 and log10 𝑃 are shown in the table below.

(b) Find the equation of the least squares regression line of log10 𝑃 against log10 𝑑. [2]
(c.i) Use your answer to part (b) to write down the value of 𝑛 to the nearest integer. [1]
(c.ii) Find an expression for 𝑃 in terms of 𝑑. [2]

5. It is believed that two variables, 𝑣 and 𝑤 are related by the equation 𝑣 = 𝑘𝑤 𝑛 , where
𝑘, 𝑛 ∈ ℝ. Experimental values of 𝑣 and 𝑤 are obtained. A graph of ln 𝑣 against ln 𝑤 shows a
straight line passing through (−1.7, 4.3) and (7.1, 17.5).
Find the value of 𝑘 and of 𝑛. [7]
6. It is believed that two variables, 𝑚 and 𝑝 are related. Experimental values of 𝑚 and 𝑝 are
obtained. A graph of ln 𝑚 against 𝑝 shows a straight line passing through (2.1, 7.3) and
(5.6, 2.4).
(a) Find the equation of the straight line, giving your answer in the form ln 𝑚 = 𝑎𝑝 + 𝑏, where
𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ. [3]
Hence, find
(b.i) a formula for 𝑚 in terms of 𝑝. [1]
(b.ii) the value of 𝑚 when 𝑝 = 0. [1]

7. Adesh wants to model the cooling of a metal rod. He heats the rod and records its temperature
as it cools.

He believes the temperature can be modeled by 𝑇(𝑡) = 𝑎e𝑏𝑡 + 25, where 𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ.

(a) Show that ln(𝑇 − 25) = 𝑏𝑡 + ln 𝑎. [2]
(b) Find the equation of the regression line of ln(𝑇 − 25) on 𝑡. [3]
Hence
(c.i) find the value of 𝑎 and of 𝑏. [3]
(c.ii) predict the temperature of the metal rod after 3 minutes. [2]

8. Petra examines two quantities, 𝑥 and 𝑦, and plots data points on a log-log graph.
 She observes that on this graph the data points follow a perfect straight line. Given that the line
passes through the points (2, 13.1951) and (4, 34.822), find the equation of the relationship
connecting 𝑥 and 𝑦. Your final answer should not include logarithms. [6]

9. A scientist is conducting an experiment on the growth of a certain species of bacteria.

The population of the bacteria, 𝑃, can be modelled by the function
𝑃(𝑡) = 1200 × 𝑘 𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 0,
where 𝑡 is the number of hours since the experiment began, and 𝑘 is a positive constant.
(a.i) Write down the value of 𝑃(0). [1]
(a.ii) Interpret what this value means in this context. [1]
3 hours after the experiment began, the population of the bacteria is 18 750.
(b) Find the value of 𝑘. [2]
(c) Find the population of the bacteria 1 hour and 30 minutes after the experiment began. [2]
The scientist conducts a second experiment with a different species of bacteria.
The population of this bacteria, 𝑆 , can be modelled by the function
𝑆(𝑡) = 5000 × 1.65𝑡 , 𝑡 ≥ 0,
where 𝑡 is the number of hours since both experiments began.
(d) Find the value of 𝑡 when the two populations of bacteria are equal. [2]
It takes 2 hours and 𝑚 minutes for the number of bacteria in the second experiment to reach
19 000.
(e) Find the value of 𝑚, giving your answer as an integer value. [4]
The bacteria in the second experiment are growing inside a container. The scientist models the
volume of each bacterium in the second experiment to be 1 × 10−18 𝑚3, and the available
volume inside the container is 2.1 × 10−5 𝑚3.
(f) Determine how long it would take for the bacteria to fill the container. [3]

10. Celeste heated a cup of coffee and then let it cool to room temperature. Celeste found
the coffee’s temperature, 𝑇, measured in ∘ C, could be modelled by the following function,
𝑇(𝑡) = 71e−0.0514𝑡 + 23, 𝑡 ≥ 0,
where 𝑡 is the time, in minutes, after the coffee started to cool.
(a) Find the coffee’s temperature 16 minutes after it started to cool. [2]
The graph of 𝑇 has a horizontal asymptote.
(b) Write down the equation of the horizontal asymptote. [1]
(c) Write down the room temperature. [1]
(d) Given that 𝑇 −1 (50) = 𝑘, find the value of 𝑘. [2]
11. The 3rd term of an arithmetic sequence is 1407 and the 10th term is 1183.
(a) Find the first term and the common difference of the sequence. [4]
(b) Calculate the number of positive terms in the sequence. [3]

12. In an arithmetic sequence, the sum of the 3rd and 8th terms is 1.
Given that the sum of the first seven terms is 35, determine the first term and the
common difference. [4]