GENERAL MATHEMATICS

Module 5: Week 5: First Quarter

Exponential Functions, Exponential Equations and Exponential Inequalities

Objectives

The main objective of this module is for the students to differentiate exponential
equation, exponential function and exponential inequalities and the processes of solving
exponential equations and exponential inequalities.

Learning Competencies
At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:
1. Represents real-life situations using exponential functions (M11GM-Ie-3)
2. Distinguishes between exponential function, exponential equation, and
exponential inequality (M11GM-Ie-4)
3. Solves exponential equations and inequalities (M11GM-Ie-f-1)

Let’s Recall

Before you get started, answer the following items. This will help you assess your prior
knowledge and practice some skills that you will need in studying the lessons in this
module.

ACTIVITY 1:
When a quantity increases by 20%, how does its new value compare to its original value?
That is, what is the ratio of the new value to the original value? Complete the table below
to discover your answer.
Ratio of the New Value to Original Value
Original Value New Value (Php)
(Php) Increased by Fraction Decimal Percent
20% Form Form Form
a. 100 100 + 20 = 120 1.20 120%

b. 150
c. 300
d. 500

Find the new value of a television set that increased by 20% over the original value of
Php 4 500.00.
ACTIVITY 2:

When a quantity decreases by 40%, how does its new value compare to its original
value? That is, what is the ratio of the new value to the original value? Complete the table
below to discover your answer.

Ratio of the New Value to Original Value

New Value (Php)
Original Value Increased by Fraction Decimal Percent
(Php) 40% Form Form Form

a. 100 100 - 40 = 60 0.60 60%

b. 150
c. 300
d. 500

Find the new value of a television set that decreased by 40% over the original value of
Php 16 000.00.

ACTIVTY 3:
A. Identify and apply the laws of exponents to simplify the following expressions.

a. 50 f. (x2y)4
b. g. (x-13)(x4) (x6)

c. 7-2 h.
d. i. (2x3y-3)-2

e. (2c3) (2c2) j.

B. Find the value of x in each of the following equations and inequalities.

a. 4x < 20
b. 5x + 1 ≤ 71
c. 2x – 10 > 123
d. 3x + 5 ≤ 4x + 30
e. 7x + 10x ≥ 20x + 35

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 Let’s Understand

In Activity 1, for a 20% increase to any original value, the ratio of the new value to the
original value is always the same 120%. This ratio is called the growth
factor associated with the specified percent increase.

The growth factor is formed by adding the specified percent increase to 100% and then
changing this percent to its decimal form.

The growth factor in Activity 1 that corresponds to a Note: The growth factor is often
20% increase is 100% + 20% = 120%. written in decimal form.
But, 120% = 1.20 in decimal form.

When a quantity increases by a specified percent, like 20% in Activity 1, its new value can
be obtained by multiplying the original value by the corresponding growth factor. That is,
original value  growth factor = new value
Hence, the new value in Activity 1 can be obtained as follows:
a. 100 x 1.20 = 120 c. 300 x 1.20 = 360
b. 150 x 1.20 = 180 d. 500 x 1.20 = 600

Php 4 500 x 1.20 = php 5 400.00

In Activity 2, for a 40% decrease from any original value, the ratio of the new value to the
original value is always the same, 60%. This ratio is called the decay factor
associated with the specified percent decrease.

The decay factor is formed by subtracting the specified decrease from 100% and then
changing this percent to its decimal form.

The decay factor in Activity 2 that corresponds to a 40% decrease is

100% - 40% = 60% = 0.60
But, 60% = 0.6 in decimal form.

Definition 1.1: An exponential function is a function in the form where b > 0,

b ≠ 1, and x is any real number.
We exclude because will become a constant function, . By
definition, the domain of is the set of real numbers.

Most of the time, exponential functions follow two trends.

Consider . The value of for various values of is given as follows:

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We see that grows without bound. This behavior is called exponential growth. A
function displays exponential growth if b > 1.

Consider . The value of for various values of is given below:

It can be observed that is decreasing and approaching the value 0. This trend is called
exponential decay and it happens when the value of the base is between 0 and 1 or if
0 < b < 1 for .
These trends can easily be observed by looking at the graphs of the functions.

Exponential growth and decay are opposites, not in the sense that they are inverses of
each other, but in a way that growth refers to increase in change, while decay refers to a
decline. These are two important concepts since they model many real-world processes
like population growth, radioactive decay, economic development, and temperature
decrease among other things.

REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS USING EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Example 1: Alex deposits deposits ₱50,000 in a savings account. The account pays 6%
annual interest. If he makes no more deposits and no withdrawals, calculate
his new balance after 10 years.

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Solution:
The interest represents a 6% rate of growth per year, so the growth factor or the constant
multiplied is 100% + 6% = 106% or 1.06. To find an equation that can be used to find the
new balance after any number of years by considering the yearly calculations, we have:

We can now use this equation y = 50 000 (1.06)ˣ, where x represents time in years and y
represents the new balance in pesos. To find the new balance after 10 years, we have:
y = 50 000 (1 .06)¹⁰
= 89 542.38

The new balance after 10 years is ₱89 542.38

When an amount increases by a constant percent, we have exponential growth.

Definition 1.2: The rule for exponential growth can be modeled by

y = abˣ

where a is the starting number, b is the growth factor, and x is the number of intervals
(minutes, years, and so on).

Example 2: A bacteria grows at a rate of 25% each day. There are 500 bacteria today.
How many will there be?
a. tomorrow?
b. one week from now?
c. one month from now?

Solution:
a. Using the formula y = abˣ where a = 500, b = 1.25, and x = 1, then
y = 500(1.25)¹ Substitute 500 for a,1.25 for b, and 1 for x.
y = 625

There will be 625 bacteria tomorrow.

b. Using the formula y = abˣ where a = 500, b = 1.25, and x = 7, then

y = 500(1.25)⁷ Substitute 500 for a,1.25 for b, and 7 for x.
y = 2 384.19

There will be 2,384 bacteria one week from now.

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 c. Using the formula y = abˣ where a = 500, b = 1.25, and x = 30, then
y = 500(1.25)30 Substitute 500 for a, 1.25 for b, and 30 for x.
y= 403,896.78

There will be 403,897 bacteria one month from now.

Another real-life application of exponential growth occurs in the computation of compound

interest. The formula for the compound interest is:

where:
A = compound amount t = time in years
P = principal n = period per year
r = interest rate

Example 3: Ellaine invested ₱50,000.00 at an annual rate of 6% compounded yearly.

Find the total amount in the account after 10 years if no withdrawals and no
additional deposits are made.

Solution:
Use the compound interest formula with P = ₱50,000.00, r = 0.06, n = 1, and t = 10.
nt
 r
A = P 1 + 
 n
(1)(10)
 0.06 
= 50,000 1 + 
 1 
= 50,000 (1.06)¹⁰
= 89 542.38
There would be ₱89 542.38 in the account at the end of 10 years.

Definition 1.3: An exponential equation is an equation that involves a variable as an

exponent.

Examples of exponential equation are and .

The table below shows the laws of exponents which will help you solve exponential
equations.
Law of Exponent Formula
Zero exponent

Negative exponent

Product

Quotient

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 Power of a Power =

Power of a Product

Power of a Quotient

To solve exponential equations, we apply the one-to-one property of exponential

functions.

Definition 1.4: One-to-One Property of Exponential Functions states that if two

exponential expressions with the same base are equal, then their
exponents are also equal.

For instance, if , then and if , then .

Example1: Solve .

Solution:
Step 1: Write both sides of the equation as power of the same base.
Note that . Hence, the equation will become

Step 2: Equate the exponents and solve for the variable.

x–1=3
x=4

Step 3: Check by substituting the value of x into the original equation:

Example 2: Solve .
Solution:
Step 1: Write both sides of the equation with the same base.
Note that 4 = 22 and .

Step 2: Equate the exponents and solve for the variable.

2(2x + 7) = -5(-x + 5)
4x + 14 = 5x – 25
4x – 5x = -25 – 14
-x = -39
x = 39

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Definition 1.4: An inequality is a mathematical statement that shows that two quantities
are different.

Definition 1.5: An inequality that involves exponential expressions is called as

exponential inequality.

Examples of exponential inequalities are and .

Properties of Exponential Inequality

• When b > 1
The exponential inequality is true if and only if x < y.
• When 0 < b < 1
The exponential inequality is true if and only if x > y

For simplicity, inequality symbol is retained for the relationship between the exponents if
the base is greater than 1. If the value of the base is between 0 and 1, the inequality
symbol is then reversed.

Example 1: Solve the inequality .

Solution:
Step 1: Express both sides of the inequality using the same base, 3.

Step 2: Form the inequality using the exponents whose inequality symbol is
the same as the original inequality. The symbol is retained because
the base 3 is greater than 1.
3x < 2x – 6
3x – 2x < - 6
x<-6
Therefore, the solution set for the inequality is (-∞, -6).

Example 2: Find the solution set for the inequality .

Solution:
Step 1: Express both sides of the equation using the same base, .

Step 2: Form the inequality using the exponents. In this case, the base is
or 0.1 which is between 0 and 1. The inequality symbol that will
be used is the reverse of the original inequality symbol.
x + 5 ≤ 6x
x – 6x ≤ - 5
- 5x ≤ - 5

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 x≥1
Dividing both sides of an inequality reverses the inequality symbol.
Therefore, the solution set for the inequality is (1, ∞).