1 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION AND ITS PROPERTIES CNMiKnO 1

1 Exponential function and its properties

The power function was defined earlier as f (x) = xa , where a was a given real number, and x was the variable.
If we interchange these two letters, we will have a power ax with a fixed base and variable exponent. Such a
function is called an exponential function.

Def. 1.1 The exponential function f with base a is defined by

f (x) = ax

where a is a real number such that a > 0, a 6= 1 and x is any real number.

Your first question, as always, should be: why the assumptions on base a ? Here is why:
• a = 1 is excluded because it yields f (x) = 1x = 1, which is a constant linear function.
• Similarly, a = 0 leads to f (x) = 0x , which equals 0 for all x > 0.
• a > 0, because for example when a = −1, ax doesn’t exist for every x
√ √
   
1 1
f = 3 −1 = −1, f = −1 6∈ IR
3 2

If we have a function, then we can draw its graph. And we can read most of the properties of
a function from its graph. Exponential functions come in two varieties,
• if the base a is larger than 1, e.g. 4x then the values will grow with increasing exponent x,
 x
1
• if the base a is smaller than 1, e.g. = 4−x then the values will decline as the exponent x increases.
4

Properties of the exponential function f (x) = ax

decreasing increasing
one-to-one
f (0) = 1
domain: IR
range: IR+
1 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION AND ITS PROPERTIES CNMiKnO 2

• Exponential equations

one-to-one property: ax = ay ⇔ x=y

The one-to-one property is used when solving exponential equations.

Example 1.1 To explain the idea of using one-to-one property, let’s solve this simple equation
 4x
1
= 81
27
As always, start with determining restrictions on the variable x. Here there are none, so x ∈ IR. To solve
the equation, first we try to express both sides of the equation as powers with the same base

4x
3−3 = 34

3−12x = 34
and then, by the one-to-one property, we may drop the common base

1
−12x = 4 ⇐⇒ x=−
3

——    ——

Example 1.2 The same approach is the first thing we try with more complicated equations as well.

7 · 4x − 26 = 22x+1 + 7 · 4x−1
There are no restrictions on x, so x ∈ IR. We simplify the equation,

7 · 4x − 26 = 22x · 21 + 7 · 4x · 4−1
7
7 · 4x − 2 · 4x − · 4x = 26
4
13 x
· 4 = 26
4
4x = 8
3
22x = 23 ⇐⇒ 2x = 3 ⇐⇒ x=
2
——    ——

Example 1.3 It is, of course, not always possible to express the entire expression as one power. In such cases
we may try to use substitution.
32x − 8 · 3x − 9 = 0
As before, x ∈ IR. By using the substitution 3x = t > 0, we change the exponential equation into a quadratic
one
t2 − 8t − 9 = 0
(t + 1)(t − 9) = 0
This equation has two solutions, but only the positive one is valid

t = −1 < 0, ∨ t=9

Now, we reverse the substitution

3x = 9
3x = 32 =⇒ x=2
——    ——
1 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION AND ITS PROPERTIES CNMiKnO 3

Example 1.4 Here is one example with some initial restrictions on x.

1 √x
· 4 = 8x−1
8
We start with noting that there is a restriction on x due to the square root, that is: x ≥ 0. Then, we simplify
√
2−3 · 22 x
= 23(x−1)
√
2−3+2 x
= 23x−3
and by the one-to-one property, we may drop the common base
√
−3 + 2 x = 3x − 3
√
2 x = 3x
We may square both sides of this equation since they are both nonnegative (x ≥ 0)

4x = 9x2

4
x(9x − 4) = 0 =⇒ x=0 ∨ x=
9
——    ——
• Exponential inequalities

When solving inequalities with an exponential function we most often use the monotonicity property.

Monotonicity
x y
a ≤a ⇐⇒ x ≤ y, for a > 1
ax ≤ ay ⇐⇒ x ≥ y, for 0 < a < 1

To illustrate the idea we’ll start with a similar example we used to explain how to solve equations.

Example 1.5
 4x
1
≥ 81
27
From this, just as with the equation, we get

3−12x ≥ 34

Since the exponential function with base 3 is an increasing function, we drop the base without changing the
direction of the inequality
1
−12x ≥ 4 =⇒ x≤−
3
Notice that we could have simplified the original inequality to
 12x  −4
1 1
≥
3 3

1
And here, since the exponential function with base is a decreasing function, when dropping the base we’d
3
have to change the direction of the inequality
12x ≤ −4
which, of course, leads to the same solution.
——    ——
REFERENCES CNMiKnO 4

Example 1.6 Substitution is useful in cases where we’re unable to simplify the entire expression into one
power
16x − 8 < −22x+1
There are no restrictions on x, so x ∈ IR.

42x + 2 · 4x − 8 < 0

We make the substitution 4x = t > 0, and change the exponential inequality into a quadratic one,

t2 + 2t − 8 < 0

(t − 2)(t + 4) < 0
−4 < t < 2 ∧ t > 0 =⇒ 0<t≤2
Now, we reverse the substitution
0 < 4x ≤ 2
1
22x ≤ 2 =⇒ 2x < 1 =⇒ x≤
2
——    ——

Example 1.7 Here is an example that at first looks complicated

√ √
2 x−1−1
x−1+1
7+4 2 >4
Start with restrictions on x.
x−1≥0 =⇒ x≥1
Then simplify the inequality, √ √
1
7>4·4 x−1
− 4− 2 · 4 x−1

7 √x−1
7> ·4
2
√
2 > 22 x−1
√
1>2 x−1
Since both sides of the inequality are positive, we may square it

5 5
1 > 4(x − 1) =⇒ x< ∧ x≥1 =⇒ 1 ≤ x <
4 4

——    ——

References
[1] Matematyka – podstawy z elementami matematyki wyszej, edited by B. Wikiel , PG publishing house, 2009.