College of Integrative Studies

Chapter 5
Math Preparatory Program Exponential &
Logarithmic Functions
Pre-Calculus
for Business

Fall 2024

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

Learning Objectives
• Evaluate Exponential
Functions
• Graph Exponential Functions
• Define the Number e
• Solve Exponential Equations

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

THEOREM Laws of Exponents

If s, t, a, and b are real numbers with a > 0 and
b > 0, then
s t s+t s t st s s s
a ⋅ a =a (a ) = a (ab) = a ⋅ b
s
s -s 1 æ1ö
1 =1 a = s =ç ÷ a0 = 1
a èaø

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

DEFINITION Exponential Growth

An exponential function is a function of the
form
f(x) = Cax
where a is a positive real number (a > 0), a ≠ 1,
and C ≠ 0 is a real number. The domain of f is
the set of all real numbers. The base a is the
0
growth factor, and, because f(0) = Ca = C, C is
called the initial value.

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

Theorem
x
For an exponential function f(x) = Ca , a > 0,
a ≠ 1, and C ≠ 0, if x is any real number then
f ( x + 1)
= a or f ( x + 1) = af ( x)
f ( x)

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Example 1:
Graph the exponential function: f(x) = 3x
x
The domain of f(x) = 3 is the x f(x) = 3x

set of all real numbers. –10 3–10 » 0.0000169351

1
Begin by locating some –3 3 =
27
-3

points on the graph of –2 3 =

1
9
-2

x
f(x) = 3 , as listed in the table. –1 3 =
1 -1
3
x
Because 3 > 0, for all x, the 0 0
3 =1
graph has no x-intercepts and 1 31 = 3
lies above the x-axis for all x. 2 32 = 9
3 33 = 27
The y-intercept is 1. 10
10 3 = 59,049

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Example 1:

The table suggests that as x → -∞, the value of

f approaches 0. Therefore x f(x) = 3x
the x-axis (y = 0) is a –10 3–10 » 0.0000169351
horizontal asymptote of the –3 3 =
1 -3
27
graph of f as x → –∞. –2 3 =
1 -2
9
This provides the end –1 3 =
1 -1
3
behavior for x large and 0 0
3 =1
negative. 1 31 = 3
2 32 = 9
3 33 = 27
10 310 = 59,049

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Example 1:

To determine the end behavior for x large and

positive, look at the table. x f(x) = 3x
x
As x → ∞, f(x) = 3 grows –10 3–10 » 0.0000169351
1
very quickly, causing the –3 3 =
27
-3

x
graph of f(x) = 3 to rise –2 3 =
1
9
-2

very rapidly. –1 3 =
1 -1
3
0
0 3 =1
1 31 = 3
2 32 = 9
3 33 = 27
10 310 = 59,049

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Example 1:

Using all this information, f(x) = 3x

plot some of the points from
the table and connect them
with a smooth, continuous
curve.
From the graph, we
conclude that the range of
f is (0, ∞). We also conclude
that f is an increasing
function, and so f is one-to-
one.

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• Properties of the Exponential Function f(x) = ax, a > 1

• The domain is the set of all real numbers, or

(–∞, ∞) using interval notation; the range is the set of
positive real numbers, or (0, ∞) using interval
notation.
• There are no x-intercepts; the y-intercept is 1.
• The x-axis (y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote of the
graph of f as x → –∞.
• f(x) = ax, a > 1, is an increasing function and is
one-to-one.
æ 1ö
• The graph of f contains the points ç -1, ÷ , ( 0,1)
è aø
and (1, a).
• The graph of f is smooth and continuous, with no
corners or gaps. See figure on next slide.

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

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Example 2:

Graph the exponential function:

x
æ1ö
f ( x) = ç ÷
è3ø æ1ö
x

The domain of f ( x) = ç ÷
è3ø
consists of all real numbers.
As before, locate some points
on the graph, as shown in the
table. x
Because æç 1 ö÷ > 0 for all x, the
è3ø
range of f is the interval (0, ∞).
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Example 2:

The graph lies above the x-axis and has no

x-intercepts. The y-intercept is 1.
x
æ1ö
As x → –∞, f ( x) = ç ÷ grows very quickly.
è3ø
As x → ∞, the values of f(x) approach 0.
The x-axis (y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote of the
graph of f as x → ∞.
The function f is a decreasing function and so is
one-to-one. See figure on the next slide for the
graph of f.
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Example 2:

x
æ1ö
f ( x) = ç ÷
è3ø

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• Properties of the Exponential Function f(x) = ax, 0 < a < 1

• The domain is the set of all real numbers, or

(–∞, ∞) using interval notation; the range is the set of
positive real numbers, or (0, ∞) using interval
notation.
• There are no x-intercepts; the y-intercept is 1.
• The x-axis (y = 0) is a horizontal asymptote of the
graph of f as x → ∞.
• f(x) = ax, 0 < a < 1, is a decreasing function and is
one-to-one.
æ 1ö
• The graph of f contains the points ç -1, ÷ , ( 0,1)
è aø
and (1, a).
• The graph of f is smooth and continuous, with no
corners or gaps. See figure on next slide.

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

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Example 3:

Graph f(x) = 3–x + 1, and determine the domain, range,

and horizontal asymptote of f and y-intercept of f.
Begin with the graph of y = 3x.

y = 3x y = 3–x

Replace x by –x;
Reflect about y-axis.

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Example 3:

y = 3–x
y = 3–x + 1

Add 1;
Shift up 1 unit.

The domain of f(x) = 3–x + 1 is the interval (–∞, ∞) and

the range is the interval (1, ∞). The horizontal
asymptote of f is the line y = 1. The y-intercept is (0, 2).

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

DEFINITION
The number e is defined as

In calculus, this is expressed, using limit

notation, as n
æ 1ö
e = lim ç1 + ÷
n®¥
è nø

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 x
• The Graph of y = e

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Example 4:

Graph f(x) = –ex + 2 and determine the domain,

range, horizontal asymptote, and y-intercept of f.
Begin with the graph of y = ex.

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Example 4:

Multiply by –1. Replace x by x + 2;

Reflect over the x-axis. Shift left 2 units.

The figure illustrates the domain of f(x) = –ex + 2 is the interval

(–∞, ∞), and the range is the interval (–∞, 0). The horizontal
asymptote is the line y = 0. The y-intercept is f(0) = –e0 + 2 = –
e2 » –7.39.
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 5.3: Exponential Functions

• Property

u v
If a = a , then u = v.

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Example 5:

Solve each exponential equation.

x+2 2x – 5 x
a) 2 =8 b) 9 = 27
3
a) Since 8 = 2 , write the equation as
2x + 2 = 2 3
Now the expressions on both sides of the equation
have the same base, 2. Set the exponents equal to
each other to obtain
x+2=3
x=1
The solution set is {1}.
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Example 5:

b) 92x – 5 = 27x
2x – 5 x
9 = 27
2 (2x – 5) 3 x
(3 ) = (3 ) 9 = 32; 27 = 33

32(2x – 5) = 33x (ar)s = ars

2(2x – 5) = 3x If au = av, then u = v.

4x – 10 = 3x
x = 10
The solution set is {10}.

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Example 6:
1
Solve e - x2
= (e ) × 6
5x

Use the Laws of Exponents first to get a single

expression with the base e on the right side.
x 5 1
( ) e6
e × = e 5x
× e -6
= e 5 x -6

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Example 6:
- x2
Then e = e5 x -6
–x2 = 5x – 6 If au = av, then u = v.

x2 + 5x – 6 = 0 Place the quadratic equation in

standard form.
(x + 6)(x – 1) = 0 Factor.

x = –6 or x = 1 Use the Zero-Product Property.

The solution set is {–6, 1}.

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 5.3: Exponential Functions

Classwork:
1. Solve
a.
b.
d.

2.

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