UNIT 6

EXPONENTIAL
AND
LOGARITHMIC
FUNCTIONS
110
 Transformations of Exponential Functions
The general equation for a transformed exponential function is

! = #$["($%&)] + &
RECALL…
To graph a transformed function of the form h(!) = (8[>(! − ?)] + A, map key points on the parent function to
their new location using the mapping rule:

$
((, !) → ( + - , #! + &)
"

EXAMPLE 1
Consider the exponential functions 8(!) = 2$ and h(!) = −2 (($%') + 5 .

a) Graph 8(!) using a table of values, with −3 ≤ ! ≤ 3. Then use the mapping rule to graph h(!) on the same grid.

b) Describe the effects of the transformations on the asymptote of 8(!).

c) Describe the effects of the transformations on the domain and range of 8(!).

111
d) List, in order, the transformations that must be applied to the graph of 8(!) in order to obtain the graph of h(!).
State the domain and range of h(!), and the location of the asymptote.

• Reflected in the r !-axis / r 4-axis

• Vertically r stretched / r compressed by a factor of _______

• Horizontally r stretched / r compressed by a factor of _______

• Shifted _______ units r left / r right and _______ units r up / r down

EXAMPLE 2
! "
" $ " %$$.$
Consider the exponential functions 8(!) = O(P and h(!) = 2 O(P −4.

a) Graph 8(!) using a table of values, with −3 ≤ ! ≤ 3. Then use the mapping rule to graph h(!) on the same grid.

b) Describe the effects of the transformations on the asymptote of 8(!).

c) Describe the effects of the transformations on the domain and range of 8(!).

112
d) List, in order, the transformations that must be applied to the graph of 8(!) in order to obtain the graph of h(!).
State the domain and range of h(!), and the location of the asymptote.

• Reflected in the r !-axis / r 4-axis

• Vertically r stretched / r compressed by a factor of _______

• Horizontally r stretched / r compressed by a factor of _______

• Shifted _______ units r left / r right and _______ units r up / r down

• Domain: ________________________________ Range: ________________________________

• Equation of asymptote: _______________

EXAMPLE 3
'
An exponential function with a base of 2 has been stretched vertically by a factor of ( and reflected in the 4-axis. Its
asymptote is the line 4 = 2. Its 4-intercept is (0, 3.5). Write an equation which models this function and state its
domain and range.

EXAMPLE 4

a) Write an exponential equation in the form b) Write an exponential equation in the form
4 = (* $ which matches the graph below. 4 = (* $ + A which matches the graph below.

113
 The Exponential Function and Its Inverse
An exponential function is a function in the form 4 = ((* $ ), where ( ≠ 0, and * > 0, * ≠ 1. These types of functions
can model many different phenomena, including population growth/decay, the cooling of a hot liquid, etc.

INVESTIGATE…
a) Consider the following exponential functions of the form 4 = * $ . Complete the table of values for each function.

g C g C
E = ]C E = ZC E=õ ú E=õ ú
] Z
3 E 3 E 3 E 3 E
-3 -3 -3 -3
-2 -2 -2 -2
-1 -1 -1 -1
0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3

b) Graph each function from part (a). Use an appropriate scale that accommodates all four functions, and ensure that
you use as much of the grid as possible. Label each graph with its equation.

114
c) Complete the table below.

g C g C
E = ]C E = ZC E=õ ú E=õ ú
] Z
Domain

Range

3-intercept(s)

E-intercept(s)

Asymptote(s)

d) Use Desmos to experiment with other exponential functions 4 = * $ , where {* ∈ ℝ | * > 1}. What can you conclude
about the graph of an exponential function with a real number base greater than one, as its base increases?

e) Use Desmos to experiment with other exponential functions 4 = * $ , where {* ∈ ℝ | 0 < * < 1}. What can you
conclude about the graph of an exponential function with a real number base between 0 and 1, as its base decreases
(the value of the fraction gets smaller)?

f) Compare the graphs you analyzed in part (d) with the graphs you analyzed in part (e). What do you notice?

115
EXAMPLE 1
a) Write an equation to fit the data in the table of values. Equation: ____________________

†F E
†3 3 E †F E †B E †0 E °. ¢. £. =
†3
0 1

1 4

2 16

3 64

4 256

5 1024

6 4096

b) Fill in the blank spaces in the table above.

c) What do you notice about the values in the Δ" 4 column, compared to the values in the Δ( 4 and Δ' 4 columns?

" $
d) Complete a similar table for the function 4 = O(P .

†F E
†3 3 E †F E †B E †0 E °. ¢. £. =
†3

e) What can you conclude about the rate of change of an exponential function? (HINT! Check the top of page 317)

116
EXAMPLE 2
The function 4 = 2$ is shown on the graph below. The line 4 = ! is also shown on the graph.

a) Identify the key features of 4 = 2$ (domain and

range, intercepts, asymptotes, positive/negative
intervals, increasing/decreasing intervals)

b) Recall that the inverse of a function is the reflection of the function in the line 4 = !. Sketch the inverse function,
! = 24 .

Verify that your sketch is correct by noting the key points on the original function (you may wish to refer to your table
of values on page 1) and the key points on the inverse function. Any point (!, 4) on the original function becomes
(4, !) on the inverse function.

Key points on the inverse function ! = 24 are:

( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ ) ( _____ , _____ )

c) Identify the key features of the inverse graph ! = 24 (domain and range, intercepts, asymptotes, positive/negative
intervals, increasing/decreasing intervals).

117
 Solving Exponential Equations
In order to solve problems Involving exponential functions, we need the skills necessary to solve exponential
equations. Exponential equations are equations in which the variable occurs in the exponent.

EXAMPLE 1
Solve each exponential equation. (HINT! Express each side of the equation as a power of the same base.)
+
a) 2()! = 8√2 b) 3"(*+ = c) 25()" = 125"()-
,+

+
d) 4( (8()! ) = +.+,- 2
e) 8f = 4)/(*- f) 3"( − 10(3( ) + 9 = 0

EXAMPLE 2
Solve each exponential equation. (HINT! Use systematic trial and error or graphing technology.)
+
a) 5( = 40 b) 3( = 2 c) 2()- =
+"

If you are interested in trying more practice questions that are similar to the examples above, check out the link below.
On the left side of the page, click “Exercises” (#1-3 only).

https://courseware.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/8/assignments/201/8

Note that the site includes both an “Answers” tab and a “Solutions” tab.

118
 Logarithms
What is a Logarithm?
The logarithmic equation 4 = log 5 ! is just the
exponential equation in a different form. That is,

! = ./0 ) ( ↔ ( = &*
where A > 0, A ≠ 1.

The logarithmic function is the inverse of the exponential function!

EXAMPLE 1 - Rewrite each in logarithmic form.

+
a) 16 = 2- b) 0 = 1! c) 3)" =
0

EXAMPLE 2 - Rewrite in exponential form.

"
a) log ) 64 = 3 b) log & O P = −4 c) 4 = log ! (See note below)
*(&

Logarithms to the base 10 are called common logarithms. When writing a common logarithm, it is not necessary to
write the base; that is,
log 100 is understood to mean the same as log"! 100 .

EXAMPLE 3 - Evaluate.
"
a) log ' 81 b) log ( O-P c) log (& 5 d) log ) i8√2j

119
120
121
 Transformations of Logarithmic Functions
The general equation for a transformed logarithmic function is

! = # ./0 [3(( − -)] + &

RECALL…
To graph a transformed function of the form 4 = (8[>(! − ?)] + A, map key points on the parent function to their
new location using the mapping rule:

$
((, !) → ( + - , #! + &)
"

EXAMPLE 1
"
Consider the logarithmic functions 8(!) = log ! and h(!) = −3 log O− ( ! + 4P + 1.

a) List, in order, the transformations that must be applied to the graph of 8(!) in order to obtain the graph of h(!).

b) State the domain and range of h(!), and the location of the asymptote.

122
c) Graph 8(!) and h(!) on the grid below. Start with three key points on the parent function 8(!) = log !.
Then use the mapping rule to graph h(!). Remember to include the asymptotes of both functions.
(REMEMBER! 8(!) = log ! is the common logarithm, therefore, the base is 10.)

d) Describe the effects of the transformations on the asymptote of 8(!).

e) Describe the effects of the transformations on the domain and range of 8(!).

123
 ,-. n )
Proof of the change of base formula, IJK ( (") =
,-. n (

Let log 1 ! = U

In exponential form, this equation becomes

*9 = !

Let’s take the log 2 1of both sides.

log 2 (*9 ) = log 2 (!)

The exponent U can be brought down to become a coefficient. We have,

U log 2 (*) = log 2 (!)

Now let’s isolate U.

U log 2 (*) log 2 (!)

=
log 2 (*) log 2 (*)

log 2 (!)
U=
log 2 (*)

Remember that log 1 ! = U , so sub log 1 ! back into the equation.

log 2 (!)
log 1 ! =
log 2 (*)

k\l ($)
Therefore, log 1 ! = k\l%(1) . This concludes our proof!
%

EXAMPLE 1
Evaluate.
"
a) log , (log - (! − 3)) = − ( b) log $ (16) = −2

127
EXAMPLE 2
Simplify each expression to a single logarithm.

a) log ' ! + log ' (! − 1) − log ' (2!)

b) log(2S) − 2 log(™) + 3 log(S™)
k\l $
c)
k\l 4

EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4
)$ &
Express log ( O P in terms of log ( ! and log ( 4 . Simplify and evaluate 2 log ' (12) − log ' (6) − 3 log ' (2)
√4
.

128
 Techniques for Solving Logarithmic Equations
EXAMPLE 1

Solve for !.

a) 2(3$%) ) = 25 b) 5$%) = 3(4($." )

EXAMPLE 2

Solve for !. Identify any restrictions on ! and reject any extraneous roots.

a) 3 log(2!) + 6 = 0 b) log ' (! − 1) = log ' (! ( ) − log ' (! + 3)

132
c) 2 log ) ! − log ) (4! + 3) = −1 ) (
d) log √! ( + 48! =
'

EXAMPLE 2

Algebraically determine all points of intersection of the functions 8(!) = log ( (2! − 2) and h(!) = 5 − log ( (! − 1).
Check your answer algebraically, using graphing technology.

133
 Exponential Growth and Decay
State the restrictions on &, and then solve.
WARM UP! 2 log & + log 3 − log(& + 1) = log 4

An exponential function and its graph can be used as a model to solve problems involving exponential growth and
decay. For the exponential function ,(-) = .(/)
"

8(!) à the final amount

( à the initial amount
* à 1 plus the growth rate (as a decimal) OR 1 minus the decay rate (as a decimal)
! à the number of growth/decay periods (calculate this by taking the total time and dividing by the time it takes to
complete one full growth/decay cycle)

You can think of the equation as

/0123 /567
NOM!P QRSTMU = VU!WUOMX QRSTMU(Y + ZWS[U\ ]!U^)/567 10 80693717 :+7 ;<0=1> 8*?37
OR
/0123 /567
NOM!P QRSTMU = VU!WUOMX QRSTMU(Y − _^`!L ]!U^) /567 10 80693717 :+7 @7?2* 8*?37

ü The growth and decay rate are expressed as a decimal. For example, if something grows or decays by 30%, the
growth/decay rate would be 0.30.

ü Remember that the values you plug in for the exponent must be in the same units. For example, if one value is given
in hours, and another is given in minutes, convert both to the same unit before plugging into the equation.

134
EXAMPLE 1
In a bacterial culture, the number of bacteria increases by 50% every 12 hours. The initial population is 150 bacteria.

a) Determine the number of bacteria in the culture b) Determine the average rate of change per hour
after 1 week. between 6 days and 8 days.

EXAMPLE 2
A 139264 g sample of radioactive polonium-210 has a half-life of 138 days. This means that every 138 days, the amount
of polonium left in a sample is half the original amount. How long will it take for this 139264 g sample to decay to 34 g?

EXAMPLE 3
A speedboat is purchased for $45 000 and sold eight years later for $20 000. Determine the average rate of depreciation
per year on the value of the boat.

135
EXAMPLE 4
A scientist starts with five bacteria. After one hour, there are 5120 bacteria. What is the doubling period for her bacteria,
in minutes?

EXAMPLE 5
You will be investing some money into a bank account, and you would like it to double.

a) If the interest rate offered on the account is 3.5%, compounded annually, for how many full years will you have to
leave it in the account?

b) If it will take 25 years for your initial investment to double in value, what annual compound interest rate is being
offered?

136