Guided Notes Key

Name: Date:

Writing and Solving

Exponential Equations
Objective
In this lesson, you will create exponential equations and inequalities in one variable and use
them to solve problems.

an exponential relationship: a relationship in which

a change in the independent variable results in a constant percentage rate of
increase or decrease in the dependent variable

Exponential Expressions and Equations

Exponential expressions contain a constant raised to a power .

called the "base" called the "exponent"

The exponent states the number of times we multiply the base by itself.

Example: 25 = 2  2  2  2  2 = 32 2 is the base, and 5 is the exponent.

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Equations that have a variable as an exponent are called exponential equations.

• an increase in a quantity at a constant percentage rate per unit interval

exponential
growth • examples: a quantity that doubles every day, compounded interest,
the human population

• a decrease in a quantity at a constant percentage rate per unit interval

exponential
decay • examples: a quantity that halves each day, the depreciating value of a car, the
weight of radioactive materials

Guided Notes: Writing and Solving Exponential Equations 1

 Guided Notes Key

GENERAL FORM OF EXPONENTIAL EXPRESSIONS

the exponent or
the initial amount power of the expression

or starting value

the base, also called the factor

• When x = 0, the expression will equal A .

• If b > 1 , the expression will model exponential growth.

• If b is between 0 and 1 , the expression will model exponential decay.

The growth or decay rate, r, is typically written as a percentage .

If r is a rate of growth, r = b – 1 . If r is a rate of decay, r = 1 – b .

Expression Growth or Decay Rate

30(1.25)x growth r = 1.25 –1 = 0.25 = 25 %

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500(0.75)x decay r= 1 – 0.75 = 0.25 = 25 %

2(2)x growth r= 2 – 1 = 1 = 100 %

REWRITING THE BASE

To solve exponential equations, we have to rewrite the bases so they are equal and the equation is in
the form bx = by.

If the bases of an exponential equation are equal, then the exponents are equal as well: x = y.

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Example:
3x + 1 = 81 Rewrite the right side of the equation so
3 x+1
=34 that it has the same base as the left side,
3.
x +1 = 4

x = 3

Variations of this problem type include:

𝑥𝑥 -x
• working with bases in the form of �1 � , which we rewrite as b .
𝑏𝑏

• rewriting both sides of the equation with a new base

• isolating the exponential term

:
1 1 − 𝑥𝑥
45𝑥𝑥 = �32�
Rewrite both sides of the
1 1 − 𝑥𝑥
(22 )5𝑥𝑥 = � 5� equation so that they have
2

(22 )5𝑥𝑥 = (2−5 )1 − 𝑥𝑥 the same base of 2 .

210𝑥𝑥 = 2−5 + 5𝑥𝑥
10𝑥𝑥 = −5 + 5𝑥𝑥

5x = -5

𝑥𝑥 = -1

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Modeling with Exponential Equations

We can use an exponential equation to model a relationship between two variables, but must determine the
initial value, the base, and the exponent.

Guided Notes: Writing and Solving Exponential Equations 3

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A. A single cell of bacteria is placed with some nutrients in a petri.

A researcher notes that the bacterial count in the dish doubles every hour.

The initial bacteria The situation represents exponential growth .

count (initial amount) The count increases by 100 %,
is 1 . so the value of r is 1 .

B. Fill in the values of A and b to write an exponential expression to model the bacterial count in the dish
after x hours of growth.
⇒ A= 1

⇒ b= 2

⇒ A(b)x = 1 ( 2 )x

Consider a situation where a student deposits $300 in a savings account with 4% compounded annually. Will
it earn $65 after 5 years?

This an exponential growth situation for which r = 0.04 , b = 1.04 , and A = $ 300 .
Substitute these values into the general form of an exponential expression with x =5.

A(b)x = 300 ( 1.04 )5 ≈ 365 So, after 5 years, the student will have $365.

For problems involving interest that is not compounded annually, this formula can be used: ©Edmentum. Permission granted to copy for classroom use.

𝑟𝑟 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑃𝑃0 �1 + �
𝑛𝑛
• P0 is the initial deposit .

• r is the interest rate.

• n is the number of times per year that the interest is compounded.

• t is the time, in years.

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Example:
$300 is placed in account where it earns 4% interest compounded quarterly for five years.

4 times per year

0.04 (4)(5)
20
P = 300�1 + 4
� = 300( 1.01 ) = 366.06

So, the account would have $ 366.06 after five years if the interest were compounded quarterly.

Modeling with Exponential Inequalities

Exponential inequalities:

• inequalities that have the variable as an exponent

• can generate a range of solutions

We can solve an exponential inequality as we solve an exponential equation—by rewriting the base.

However, there is an important property of inequality for exponents.

For b > 1 : For 0 < b < 1 :

Reverse the inequality for
the exponents.
• If bx > by, then x > y. • If bx > by, then x < y.

• If bx < by, then x < y. • If bx < by, then x > y.

1 𝑥𝑥

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1
10 �2� > 80 �2� 6𝑥𝑥 < 18
Insert the correct inequality symbol
1 𝑥𝑥
to complete the steps �2� > 8 6𝑥𝑥 < 36
for solving each inequality.
1 𝑥𝑥 1 −3 6𝑥𝑥 < 62
�2� > �2�

𝑥𝑥 < −3 𝑥𝑥 < 2

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 Guided Notes Key

Currently there are 691,255 trees in a national forest.

A park ranger discovered that an untreatable disease Since this situation models decay,
r = 1 – b.
is killing the trees at a rate of 1.5% every year.
Let t represent the number of years after the current date. Determine and then solve the inequality that can
be used to model when there will be no more than 621,859 trees.

691,255 ( 0.985 )t ≤ 621,859

the initial (current) population 0.015 = 1 – b

A solution to this inequality can be found Time (years) Number of Trees

by creating a table of values.
0 691,255(0.985)0 = 691,255
1 691,255(0.985)1 ≈ 680,886
So, t ≥ 7 .
2 691,255(0.985)2 ≈ 670,673
3 691,255(0.985)3 ≈ 660,613
4 691,255(0.985)4 ≈ 650,704
5 691,255(0.985)5 ≈ 640,940
6 691,255(0.985)6 ≈ 631,329
7 691,255(0.985)7 ≈ 621,859
8 691,255(0.985)8 ≈ 612,531

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Guided Notes: Writing and Solving Exponential Equations 6