Prof.

Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025

Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

Exercise sheet 3 WPO3

1 Theory Overview
2 Rules of logarithms

ln x
1. ax = ex ln a 6. loga x =
ln a
2. eln x = x 7. loga (xy) = loga x + loga y
x
3. loga 1 = 0 8. loga = loga x − loga y
y
4. loga a = 1 9. loga xy = y loga x
logb x
5. loga x = 10. ln ex = x
logb a
11. loga ax = x

3 Rules of factorials

x! = 1.2.3.4....(x − 2).(x − 1).x 0! = 1

4 Transformation Rules
Consider a function f (x) with the following transformations

1. f (x + a):

(a) if a > 0 the function moves to the left.

(b) if a < 0 the function moves to the right.

2. f (x) + a:

(a) if a > 0 the function moves up.

(b) if a < 0 the function moves down.

3. af (x):

(a) if a > 1 the function becomes steeper.

(b) if 0 < a < 1 the function becomes flatter.
(c) if a < 0 the function gets flipped over the x axis.

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

4. f (ax):

(a) if a > 1 the function gets squished.

(b) if 0 < a < 1 the function gets stretched.
(c) if a < 0 the function gets flipped over the y axis.

4.1 Linear functions

Linear functions are functions of the form y = ax + b, where a is your directional coeffi-
cient and b your y-intercept. 2 lines y1 = a1 x + b1 and y2 = a2 x + b2 can either intersect,
intersect perpendicularly or be parallel:

• two lines are parallel (y1 // y2 ) if their directional coefficients a1 and a2 are equal
(a1 = a2 )

• two lines are perpendicular (y1 ⊥ y2 ) if the product of their directional coefficients
a1 and a2 is equal to -1 (a1 · a2 =-1)

We can determine a unique line through 2 points (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) using the following
expression:
y2 − y1
y − y1 = (x − x1 )
x2 − x1
Consequently the directional coefficient a can be calculated as:
y2 − y1
a=
x2 − x1

4.2 Quadratic functions

Quadratic functions or parabolas are functions of the form y = ax2 + bx + c. Parabolas are
characterized by a vertex and a line of symmetry. Some alternative notations for parabolas
reveal some of these characteristics.

y = α (x − β)2 + γ

The coordinates of the vertex are given by:

 
b2
• vertex: −b2a
, c − 4a
when the parabola is described as follows: y = ax2 + bx + c

• vertex: (β, γ) when the parabola is described as follows: y = α (x − β)2 + γ

• vertex: a+b , f ( a+b

2 2
) when the parabola is described as follows:
f (x) = c(x − a)(x − b)

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

5 Exercises

5.1 Logaritmic and exponential functions

1. As you discussed in the HOC, logarithms are the inverse of exponentials. To deepen your
understanding please:

1. Use a graph to express this relation. (You can use your phone screen as a mirror)
2. Explain why rules 10 and 11 of logarithms make sense.

2. Solve the following equations without a calculator:

1
a) log2 16 b) log 1 8 c) log4 4
2
√
d) ln 1e e) ln e f) ln ee

3. Solve the following equations in R:

a) 3x + 3x+1 = 4 b) 9 · 3x + 3x+2 = 54
c) e3x+1 = 15 d) (2.4)x−1 = 100
e) 3 log x + log 2 = log 162 − log x f) log(x + 1) = log 24 − log(x − 1)
g) logx−2 x = 2 + logx−2 0.28 h) 2 log100 x2 − log x = 4

4. Determine the logarithmic functions (y = loga (x)) that go through the following points:

b) 91 , 2


a) (32, 5)
d) 81 , 3


c) (7, 3)

5. Simplify the following expressions

√
a) log3 5 + log3 18 − 2 log3 10
b) 2 log2 12 − log2 15 + log2 5
c) loga 9 − loga 6 + loga 5 − loga 3 + loga 4

6. Where possible, please identify the inverse of the following functions.

1
a) f (x) = 5x − 1 b) f (x) = x
c) f (x) = 2x−1
d) f (x) = 12 x + 3 e) f (x) = x3 − 5x f) f (x) = x2
1
g) f (x) = x+5
h) f (x) = ln (2x + 3)

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

5.2 Transformations of graphs and functions

Verify your answers for these exercises you can use an online tool like www.desmos.com.
The build in graphing tool will allow you to get answers and visualise permutations.

7. Determine and plot the following transformations and identify their domain and range:
(2f (x), f (2x), f ( 21 x), 12 f (x), f (x) + 2, f (x + 2), −f (x) and f (−x))

a) f (x) = x b) f (x) = −x
c) f (x) = x2 d) f (x) = x2 + 2
e) f (x) = 2x f) f (x) = 2−x
1
g) f (x) = x3 h) f (x) = x

8. Plot the following functions. (Tip:Keep the transformation rules in mind)

a) f (x) = x + 3 b) f (x) = 2x + 26 c) f (x) = 2(x − 4)2 + 1

(x+3)2 (6x−7)2
d) f (x) = 2
e) f (x) = 2
f) f (x) = x3 − 10
(x−1)3
g) f (x) = 2
+1 h) f (x) = (x − 10)3 i) f (x) = ex−3
j) f (x) = e2x k) f (x) = 2ex + 1 l) f (x) = ln (x + 1)

9. Determine the domain and range of the following functions (To verify your answer sketch
them in Desmos)

a) y = x2 + (2 + x) 12 b) y = 21 x2 + 1 c) y = 12 (x − 2)2
d) y = 21 (x − 2) 3 1


e) y = 2+(x + 4) (3x − 7) f) y = 5x − 2
x + 2

g) y = (x − 1)2 +(x + 2)2 h) y = −2(x − 5)2 + 6 i) y = x2 + 4x − 6

j) y = 4x2 + 4x − 8 k) y = −5 (x − 3) (x + 6) l) y = 21 (x + 1) (x − 1)

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

5.3 Linear functions and Parabolas

10. Consider the following equations. Which of these lines, intersect with the equation y=2x+4?
Which of these lines, have a parallel relation with y= 2x+4? Which of these lines, will be
perpendicular to y=2x+4?

a) y = 2x + 3 b) y = 3x + 4 c) x = 2y + 4
d) x = −2y + 3 e) x = 21 y − 2 f) y = 7

11. Investigate the sign of the following functions (recap exercise):

a) y = 2x + 4 b) y = − 32 x − 1
4
c) y = |x| + 1
d) y = |x − 1| e) y = x2 − 3x − 10 f) y = 2x3 + 7x2 + 7x + 2
5 2x3 −3x2 −x−2
g) y = x−2
h) y = x3 +x2 +6x

12. Determine the directional coefficient, the intersection with the x-axis, and y-axis

a) y = 2x − 1 b) (x + 1) + (y − 2) = 0
c) 3x + 4y − 7 = 2x + 3y − 6 d) y + 7 = 0

13. A linear function has a directional coefficient of −3 and traverses the point (−4, 1).Determine
the functional notation for this line and calculate the x-coordinate for y = −2.

14. Determine the linear function y = f (x) through the given points and make a sketch:

a) f (0) = 5 and f (1) = 7 b) f (0) = 8 and f (4) = 0

c) f (−1) = 2 and f (2) = −3 d) f (7) = 2 and f (9) = 2

15. Rewrite the following parabolas as f (x) = α (x − β)2 + γ and determine their vertex

a) y = x2 + 2x + 1 b) y = x2 + 3x − 4
c) y = 2x2 − 3x + 7 d) y = 5x2 + 3x − 2

16. Determine a parabola that has (1, 1) as a vertex and which goes through the origin.

17. Determine a parabola that has (−2, 7) as a vertex and which goes through (2, −3).

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

6 Solutions

6.1 Logarithmic and exponential functions

1. As you discussed in the HOC, logarithms are the inverse of exponentials. To deepen your
understanding please:

1. Use Desmos or Wolfram to verify your answers

2. /

2. Solve the following equations without a calculator:

a) 4 b) −3 c) −1
1
d) −1 e) 2
f) e

3. Solve the following equations in R:

a) V = 0 b) V = 1
ln 15−1
c) V = 3
d) V = {6.26}
e) V = {3} f) V = {5}
g) V = {7} h) V = {10000}

4. Determine the logarithmic functions that go through the following points:

a) y = log2 x b) y = log 1 x
3

c) y = log √
3
7x d) y = log 1 x
2

5. Simplify the following expressions

a) 2 b) log2 48 c) loga 10

6. Where possible, please identify the inverse of the following functions.

a) f −1 (x) = x+1
5
b) f −1 (x) = 1
x
c) f −1 (x) = 1 + log2 x
√
d) f −1 (x) = 2 (x − 3) e) f −1 (x) = / f) f −1 (x) = ± x
ex −3
g) f −1 (x) = 1−5x
x
h) f −1 (x) = 2

6.2 Transformations of graphs and functions

Verify your answers for these exercises you can use an online tool like www.desmos.com.
The build in graphing tool will allow you to get answers and visualise permutations.

7. /

8. /

9. /

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Prof. Vincent Ginis Academic year 2024-2025
Melika Mobini, Vincent Holst & Arne Vanhoyweghen WPO Math I

6.3 Linear functions and Parabolas

10. Consider the following equations. Which of these lines, intersect with the equation y=2x+4?
Which of these lines, have a parallel relation with y= 2x+4? Which of these lines, will be
perpendicular to y=2x+4?

a) // //
b) r //
c) r
d) ⊥ //
e) r //
f) r

11. Investigate the sign of the following functions:

−1
x −2 x 6
a) b)
y − 0 + y + 0 −
x 0 x 1
c) d)
y + 1 + y + 0 +
x −2 5 x −2 −1 − 12
e) f)
y + 0 − 0 + y − 0 + 0 − 0 +
x 2 x 0 2
g) h)
y − | + y + | − 0 +
12. Determine the directional coefficient, the intersection with the x-axis and y-axis
question directional coefficient intersection
x-axis intersection y-axis
1
a) 2 2
,0 (0, −1)
b) −1 (1, 0) (0, 1)
c) −1 (1, 0) (0, 1)
d) 0 / (0, −7)

13. y = −3x − 11 with (−3, −2)

14. Determine the linear function y = f (x)

a) y = 2x + 5 b) y = −2x + 8
c) y = − 53 x + 1
3
d) y = 2

15. Rewrite the following parabolas as f (x) = α (x + β)2 + γ and determine their vertex

2
a) y = (x + 1)2 → vertex: (−1, 0) b) y = x + 23 − 25 → vertex: − 32 , − 25


4 4

2 3 2 49
c) y = 2 x − 43 + 47 → vertex: 43 , 47 3
, − 49




8 8
d) y = 5 x + 10 − 20 → vertex: − 10 20

16. y = −(x − 1)2 + 1

17. y = − 58 (x + 2)2 + 7

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