7.

2 - Exponents and Logarithms

Exponents are a way of expressing multiplication in an efficient manner.

For example, we can write (7 being multiplied 5
times).

Notation and Terminology:

exponent/index

base

Laws of Exponents:

1) Addition

Ex:

To add powers you must have the same base AND exponent (then
it's "combining like terms")

2) Multiplication

Ex:

If the bases are the same, keep the base and ADD the exponents

3) Division

Ex:

If the bases are the same, keep the base and SUBTRACT the
exponents

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4) Power of a Power

Ex:

For an exponential term raised to another exponent, keep the base

and multiply the exponents.

5) Power of a Product

Ex:

The exponent is raised to each factor of the product

6) Power of a Quotient

Ex:

The exponent is raised to both the numerator and denominator

7) Exponent of Zero

Ex:

Any non-zero base raised to an exponent of zero is always equal to

ONE

Proof:

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8) Negative Exponents

Ex:

Take the reciprocal of the base and change the sign of the exponent.

Proof:

9) Rational Exponents

Ex: ; ;

More commonly we deal with an exponent where the numerator is

not one however so let's look at a deeper version of this law:

Ex: OR This second version is

th
more useful to us as taking the "n root" of a number makes is
smaller and easier to deal with.

Ex: Evaluate without a calculator

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Ex: Express with only positive exponents:

Ex: Express as an exponential term with a prime base:

Ex: Evaluate

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Solving Exponential Equations:

An exponential equation is one that involves the unknown variable being

part of the exponent (or index). There are multiple ways to solve these
types of equations:

1) Equate the exponents of "like" bases.

2) Use Logarithms (that's a future us problem)
3) An intersection of two curves (using a graphing calculator)

Ex: Solve

Ex: Solve (a) (b)

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Ex: Solve (a) (b)

Ex: Solve the equation

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Ex: The value of a sailing boat depreciations at a rate of 15% per year
for the first three years. After that, the rate of depreciation, r% remains
constant. A new boat costing $60000 is worth one fifth of its original
value after 15 years. Find:

a) The value of the boat, to the nearest dollar, after three years.
b) The rate of depreciation after the first three years of purchase.

Exercise 7C Pg 464 #1c, 2, 4, 5b, 6 - 10

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Logarithms:

Using our conventional methods, find the inverse function for

.

Algebraically Graphically

As we can see, it is impossible to isolate for the new 'y' in the algebraic
way of the inverse. That is why we create a new function that will
isolate this 'y' for us. A big observation is that this 'y' was the exponent
so therefore the answer (or output) to a logarithm is the exponent to
which the base is raised to get the argument (x).

The base of the logarithm is the base of the exponential for which we
are trying to find the inverse of. If there is no base written it has a base
of 10.

If , then

Chapter 7 Page 8
Ex: Evaluate the following:

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Ex: Solve for the value of x in the following:

(a) (b)

Ex: Write in an equivalent exponential form:

(a) (b)

Ex: Write in an equivalent logarithmic form:

(a) (b)

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Laws of Logarithms:

1)

Proof:

2)

Proof:

Chapter 7 Page 10
3)

Ex: Use the laws of logarithms to write as a single logarithm (or single
integer):

(a) (b) (c)

Ex: Simplify by writing as a single logarithm or as a rational

number:

(a) (b) (c)

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Ex: If and , then write each of the following in
terms of x and y.

(a) (b)

Solving Logarithmic Equations:

Solving logarithmic equations can be difficult at times (due to the

complexity of the logarithmic function). Two common tricks that I can
give you are to:

1) Write into exponential form (we're way more comfortable working

with this form)
2) Write as a single logarithm on each side (and hopefully you can
equate the arguments)

Chapter 7 Page 12
Ex: Solve for the unknown variable in each equation:

a) b)

c)

(d)

Chapter 7 Page 13
Ex: Solve for x: (a) (b)

Ex: Find the number of terms in the geometric sequence:

0.15, 0.45, 1.35, … ,12.15

Ex: Calculate the number of terms that are required for the sum of the
geometric series below to exceed 1000.

Chapter 7 Page 14
Ex: A company provides Mr. Young with a new car worth $30000 on the
1st of January. On the 1st of January of each subsequent year, the
value of the car depreciates by 15% of its value from the previous
year.

a) Find the value of the car three years after it was purchased. Give
your answer to the nearest dollar.
b) The company has a policy of replacing cars when their value falls to
$2500. Determine how many years it takes for Mr. Young to receive
a new car.

Chapter 7 Page 15
Change of Base Formula:

It is possible to use logarithms to switch between bases.

is an exponential function with a base of two.

Re-writing it into logarithmic form we get:

If we take and apply a logaritm of a different base, let us use 'b'

for this example…

Since we now have two expressions that equal x we can equate them to
each other and we yield a formula that will change bases for us.

which takes us from a base of 2 to a base of 'b'.

In a more general form:

Exercise 7D Pg 472 #1(b,d,e), 2(c,d,e), 3(c,d,e), 4b, 5c, 6b, 7c, 8(e,f), 9a,
10a, 11c, 12c, 13, 14, 15b, 17(c,d), 18, 19

Chapter 7 Page 16
Exponential Functions:

The basic equation of an exponential function is where ,

. To see what the graph of an exponential looks like we can
create a table of values (which we always do for ANY graph!), plot the
points, and then connect them.

Ex: Sketch

x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
y

Chapter 7 Page 17
These graphs do not have an x-intercept as is. We would have to
translate (slide) it down for them to have an x-intercept. They do have a
horizontal asymptote however which is a line that the graph approaches
but never touched. Unlike rational functions (which sometimes could
have you crossing a horizontal asymptote) these horizontal asymptotes
will never be touched by the graph.

For a general exponential function, the equation of the horizontal

asymptote is

If we add another parameter to the equation and now have our

exponential function in the form we have introduced a
version where have change the y-intercept.

Ex:

Chapter 7 Page 18
If we look at exponential equations in the form we
have introduced a version where we can change the equation of
the horizontal asymptote.

Ex: Sketch

Notice that by adding this vertical translation we also changed the

y-intercept. It is no longer equal to the parameter 'a' in this form as it
was before the translation.

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The last parameter we introduce is 'c' in the equation
This serves as a horizontal translation (or slide). It will affect the value
of the y-intercept but will not affect the equation of the horizontal
asymptote.

A Summary of the Parameters

• b controls how steep the graph increases or decreases.

○ If we have an increasing curve, If we have a
decreasing curve.
• c controls the horizontal translation.
• d controls the vertical translation (and is the new equation of the
horizontal asymptote).
• When we introduce the parameter 'a' that can affect the overall
behaviour of the graph, it may not be a growth or decay curve as
described above:
○ If then the ○ If then the
function will be increasing function will be decreasing

○ If then the ○ If then the

function will be decreasing function will be increasing

Chapter 7 Page 20
Ex: Sketch

Ex: Find the mapping rule for:

Chapter 7 Page 21
Ex: State the domain and range of

Ex: State the domain and range of

Chapter 7 Page 22
Growth and Decay:

We know that exponential functions can increase and decrease. When we

use these exponential functions to model a relationship we usually
change the word increasing to "growth" and decreasing to "decay" - as it
usually makes more sense to the relationship it is representing.

Exponential growth is all about multiplying the previous term by the

value of b so if we wanted to increase something by 15% we would
multiply by 1.15. If we wanted to decrease something by 20% we would
multiply by 0.80 (because we are left with 80% of the amount after
losing 20% of it).

Ex: When an electric generator is switched off, the current dies away
according to the formula amps, where t is the time in
seconds after the power is cut off.

a) Find when and

b) Hence, plot the graph of for
c) What current flowed in the generator at the instant it was shut off?
d) How long does it take for the current to reach 3 amps?

Chapter 7 Page 23
The Natural Exponential:

The formula for compound interest (which is a type of exponential

growth) is:

where A is the future value of the investment, P is the principal (initial

amount invested), r is the interest rate (as a decimal), n is the number of
times the money is compounded per year (so quarterly would be
), and t is the time in years that the money is invested.

Ex: What would the future value of $1000 invested at 4% compounded

monthly over 5 years be?

Chapter 7 Page 24
The Discovery:

n
The value of
1 2
100 2.704813829
100 000 2.718268237
1 000 000 2.718280469
100 000 000 2.718281815
100 000 000 000 2.718281828

From this simulation we can see that as that the value of

is approaching some value (it is converging). This value is
called 'e', where . e is a very special number in
mathematics. It is irrational (that is it never ends and does not have a
pattern). This natural exponential was first described by the Swiss
mathematician Jacob Bernouilli. He discovered this number of
performing an experiment similar to what we did above (using
compound interest). The natural exponential was first called 'e' by
Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (and is now called Euler's
number).

Chapter 7 Page 25
Graphing and on the same set of axes we can
see that the natural exponent lies between the graphs of and
(which should make sense where 2.718 lies between 2 and 3).

Chapter 7 Page 26
Ex: Suppose that gives the number of rabbits at a time t,
where t is measured in years.

a) What is the initial population of rabbits?

b) What will the population of rabbits be after 25 years?
c) After how many years will the rabbit population be 10000 rabbits?

Chapter 7 Page 27
The Natural Logarithm:

Now that we know about Euler's number (e) we can examine the
natural logarithm (ln). This logarithm is simply a logarithm with all the
same properties as other logarithms except it has a base of 'e'.

All the laws of logarithms still apply:

1)

2)

3)

The graph has the same shape as other logarithm graphs:

Chapter 7 Page 28
Solving an exponential equation involving having to logarithm both
sides still works the same as well:

Ex: Solve Ex: Solve

So what does Mr. Young LOVE using the natural logarithm over
another logarithm? Do you truly know me? One less letter to write!

Ex: For each of the following functions, state: (i) the domain (ii) any
asymptotes (iii) coordinates of any axes intercepts. Hence, sketch the
graphs.

a)

Chapter 7 Page 29
b)

Exercise 7E Pg 481 #1 - 5, 7 - 10

Chapter 7 Page 30