EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS (Chapter 16) 391 [NINE EXPONENTIAL FuNcTioNs An exponential funetion is a funetion in which the variable occurs as part of the index or exponent. The simplest exponential functions have the form f(x) = a® where a is a positive > constant, a # 1, For example, graphs of the exponential 9(x)=27* f(a" functions f(z) =2" and g(x) = (4)"=2°7 are shown alongside. All graphs of the form f(x) = a® where a is a positive constant, a # 1 . tal asymptote © pass through (0, 1) since f(0) =a =1 For the function f(x)=3-2-, find: a f(0) 6 f(3) b F(3)=3-2°% «© f(-2 =3-4 =2f EXERCISE 16€ 1 If f(e)=3" +2, find the value of a (0) & F(2) © f(-1) ®t sa) =5-*—3, find the value of, — a F(0) ’ FQ) © f(-2) 2, find the value of: a (0) b 9(4) «© 9(-1) a Complete the table of values shown for 713727410 21 the function f(x) 7 bb Use the table of values in a to graph y = f(r) © On the same set of axes and without a table of values, graph: ' y=—f(z) fl y= f(-2) y= f(x) iv y= 2f(a)392__ EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS _(Chapter 16) 5 a Click on the icon to obtain a printable graph of | y = 2%. Use the graph to estimate, to one decimal place, the value of: i 27 ii 8 i 2-98, Fr b Check your estimates in a using the [A] key on your calculator, € Use the graph to estimate, correct to one decimal place, the solution of the equation: i =5 15 @ Find the image of: a y=2* under the translation (3) 2 2) © y=2* under: | a reflection in the x-axis fia reflection in the y-axis la reflection in the line y = 2. do y=3" under: | a vertical dilation with factor 2 {i a horizontal dilation with factor 5. b y=3® under the translation ( (explain why (—2)* is undefined for some real numbers 2. R> Consider the exponential equation 3° Since 31 =3 and 3? =9, the solution for « must lie between 1 and 2. A graphics calculator can be used to solve this equation by drawing the graphs of and finding their point of intersection. To find out how to do this, y=3* and y consult the instructions on pages 21 to 24 Altematively, click on the icon to obtain a graphing package. GRAPHING PACKAGE ™ to do: —-— Draw the graph of _ y= 3". 2 Estimate x when y = 6, On your calculator you can do this using trace, Draw the graph of y=6_ on the same set of axes. ‘4 Check your estimate in 2 by finding the coordinates of the point of intersection of the graphs. 5. Solve for «, correct to 3 decimal places: a 3°=10 b 3° =30 © 3 =100 d2=122 e 57=40 f 7 =42 If using a calculator you may have to change the viewing window scales.EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS (Chapter 16) 393 E) GROWTH ano Decay In this section we will examine situations where quantities are either increasing or decreasing exponentially, These situations are known as growth and decay, and occur frequently in the world around us, For example, under favourable conditions the populations of animals and bacteria will grow exponentially. Radioactive substances and items that depreciate usually decay exponentially. GROWTH Under favourable conditions, a population of rabbits will grow exponentially. Suppose the population is given by P= 100 x 2! where ¢ is the time in months. We can use this relationship to answer questions about the rabbit population. For example, to find the population after 6 months, we substitute 6.5 and find P= 100x265 = 9051 rabbits. {100 65 Clearly, the population cannot continue to grow exponentially in the long term because eventually the rabbits will run out of food. Nevertheless, an exponential model is valuable and accurate in the short term. During a locust plague, the area of land eaten is given by A = 8000x 2°" hectares where n is the number of weeks after the initial observation. a Find the size of the area initially eaten. b Find the size of the area eaten after: | 4 weeks i 7 weeks. © Use a and b to draw a sketch graph of A against n. a Initially, n A= 8000 x 2° A = 8000 hectares b i When n=4, < “AC A= 8000 x 2°54 100 -— = 8000 x 2 | edb oa = 32000 ha ii When n=7, A= 8000 x 2°5%7 = 8000 x 235 20 = 90500 ha (3 s.f) p00 | weeks394 _ EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS (Chapter 16) EXERCISE 16D 1A local zoo starts a breeding program to ensure the survival of a species of mongoose. From a previous program, the expected population in n years’ time is given by P= 40 x 292" a What is the initial population purchased by the zoo? b What is the expected population after: i 8 years ii 10 years ili 30 years? Sketch the graph of P against n using only a and b. In Tasmania a reserve is set aside for the breeding of echidnas. The expected population size after t years is given by P=50 x 24. a What is the initial breeding colony size? b Find the expected colony size after: 13 years years ill_20 years. © Graph the population as ¢ increases using only a and b above. Jn Uganda, the number of breeding females of an endangered population of gorillas is Go. Biologists predict that the number of breeding females @ in m years’ time will, if left alone by man, grow according to G = Gp x 507 a If initially 28 breeding females are in the colony, find Go. b Find G@when i n=Syears ii n=10 years iil m= 30 years © Sketch the graph of G against n using a and b only. DECAY When the value of a variable decreases exponentially over time, we call it decay. Examples of decay include: ¢ cooling of a cup of tea or coffee @ radioactive decay © the drop in current when an electrical appliance is turned off. Gace Eaten ‘The current [ flowing through the electric circuit in a fan, t milliseconds after it is switched off, is given by I = 320 x 2-°-5' miflliamps. a Find the initial current in the circuit. b Find the current after | 4 fl 10 fil 20 milliseconds. © Sketch the graph of J against t using @ and b only. a When t=0, [=320 x 2-05*0 = 320 milliampsEXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND LOGARITHMS (Chapter 16) 395 b i When ¢ ii When ¢=10, T= 320 x 2-05%4 T= 320 x 2-05%10 20 x 2°? =320x 4 = 80 milliamps = 10 milliamps lil When ¢=20, « T= 320 x 2-05%20 = 320 x 2710 = 320 x abe = & milliamps @ The weight of radioactive material in an ore sample after t years is given by W 223 x 2-006 Find the initial weight. Find the weight after | 20 years ii 200 years ‘fil 2000 years. Sketch the graph of W against ¢ using a and b only. What is the percentage loss in weight from ¢=0 to t= 20? 5. Boiling water is placed in a reffigerator and after ¢ minutes its temperature is given by T =100x 2-* °C, a Find the inital temperature of the water. b Find the water temperature after 1 2 minutes li 10 minutes © Graph T against ¢ using a and b only. [2 compounp interest If you bank $1000, you are in effect lending the money to the bank. The bank in tum uses your money to lend to other people. The bank pays you interest to encourage your custom, and they charge interest to borrowers at a higher rate; this is how the bank makes money. 1 hour. When you place money in the bank, the bank now owes you money, and we call this amount your balance, This balance is the principal on which the bank will pay you interest, After a period of time, the interest is automatically added to your account. When this happens, the next lot of interest will be calculated on the higher balance. This creates a compounding effect on the interest as you are getting interest on interest.