Exponential Functions: General Mathematics O. Oronce

Exponential Functions
General Mathematics
O. Oronce
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students must be able
to:
• represent an exponential function through its: (a)
table of values, (b) graph, and (c) equation;
• find the domain and range of an exponential
function;
• find the intercept, zeros, and asymptote of an
exponential function; and
• graph exponential functions.
Zero as an Exponent
• If a ≠ 0, then a⁰ = 1
Illustration:
To evaluate 3⁰ ∙ 3², we have
3⁰ ∙ 3² = 3⁰⁺² = 3² = 9 or
3⁰ ∙ 3² = 1 ∙ 3² = 1 ∙ 9 = 9
Negative Exponent
• If n is any integer, and a and b are not equal to
zero, then
• Illustration
Note: The negative exponent does not make the

answer negative
Definition
Transformation – the process of moving a figure
from the starting position to some ending
position without changing its size and shape.
Reflection – a transformation that produces a

new figure, which is a mirror image of the
original figure.
Definition
Translation – a shift or movement in a figure’s

location without changing its shape.
Glide Reflection – a combination of a reflection

and a translation (glide).
Example 1
Reflect each figure across the given axis.
a. b.
c. d.
Solution to Example 1
a. b.
c. d.
Example 2
Translate each shape in the direction indicated
by the arrow.
a. b.
a. b.
Example 3
Translate each figure as indicated.
a. Translate the triangle 4 units to

the left and 3 units up.
b. Translate the parallelogram

3 units to the right and 2 units
down
a. b.
Example 4
Perform a glide reflection on:
a. triangle MNP by translating the triangle

3 units to the right and 2 units up, and then
reflecting about the y-axis
b. the isosceles trapezoid LOVE by

translating the figure 2 units to the left
and 3 units up, followed by a reflection
about the x-axis.
a. b.
Activity
The Exponent National High School with 1,500
population, including the teaching and non-
teaching staff, is located in one of the flooded
areas of the metropolis. During heavy rains,
everyone wants to know if classes are suspended.
The school principal makes a decision and sends a
text message to the assistant principal and to the
prefect of activities. These two members of the
community each sends the text message to two
members of the community, and so on.
This texting diagram can be represented by a
tree diagram that goes like this:
1. What do the smart phones of this tree diagram
represent? What do the segments represent?
2. Based on the tree diagram, the number of

persons receiving the message is increasing.
a. Complete the next table to show the
number of persons receiving the message at a
given stage. Then, make a graph.
b. Describe how the number of persons
receiving the message increases as the texting
stage progresses. Use the graph from (a) to
validate your answer.
c. What is the required number of texting stages

needed to inform 1,500 persons?
Exponential Function
An exponential function can be written as
f (x) = bˣ
where b > 0, b ≠ 1, and x is any real number
In the equation f(x) = bˣ, b is a constant called

the base and x is an independent variable
called the exponent.
Here are some examples of exponential
functions.
The following are not exponential functions.

Properties of Exponential Functions and
Their Graphs
Let f(x) = bˣ, b > 1, and b ≠ 1.
1. The domain is the set of real numbers, (-∞, ∞).

2. The range is the set of positive real numbers, (0, ∞).
3. If b > 1, f is an increasing exponential function. If 0 < b
< 1, f is a decreasing exponential function
4. The function passes through the point (0,1) because
f(0) = b⁰ = 1.
5. The graph approaches but does not reach the x-axis.
The x-axis is the horizontal asymptote.
Example 5
Sketch the graph of y = 2ˣ, y = 3ˣ, and y = 4ˣ in
one plane. Describe the significance of the
constant b in the equation y = bˣ
Compute some function values and list the results
in a table.
Example 6
Sketch the graph of y = 2ˣ, y = 2ˣ⁻¹ in one plane.
Describe the graph
in a table.
Example 7
Sketch the graph of y = 2ˣ, y = 2ˣ-1, and y = 2ˣ - 2
in one plane.
Describe the graphs.
in a table.
Example 8
Graph each group of functions in one plane.
Describe the graphs.
a. y = 2ˣ and y = -2ˣ
b. y = 2ˣ and y = 2⁻ˣ
c. y = 2ˣ, y = 2 (2ˣ), and y = 3(2ˣ)
d. y = 2ˣ and y = ½ (2ˣ)
Transformations Involving Exponential
Functions
Reflections in the Coordinate Axes
Reflections in the coordinate axes of the graph y
= f(x) are represented as follows:
1. Reflection in the x-axis: f(x) = -f(x)
2. Reflection in the y-axis: f(x) = f(-x)

Example 9
Use equation 1 to describe the transformation
that yields the graph of equation 2.
Example 10
Graph: x = 2ʸ.
The Euler’s number e is called the natural
number. The function f(x) = eˣ is called the
natural exponential junction. For the
exponential function f(x) = eˣ, e is the constant
2.71828183…, whereas x is the variable.
Example 11
Use a calculator to calculate the expression.
a. e⁰∙⁰¹
b. e.⁰∙⁵
c. e. ⁰∙¹
d. e²
Example 12
Sketch the graph: y = eˣ and y = e⁻ˣ.

a. Construct the table of values. Plot the points and
connect with smooth curve.
b. Construct the table of values. Plot the points and
connect with smooth curve.
Example 13
Sketch the graph of each natural exponential

function.
a. f(x) = 2e⁻⁰∙²⁴ˣ
b. g(x) = e⁰∙⁵⁸ˣ
To sketch the two graphs, use a calculator to construct a
table of values as shown below. After constructing the
table, plot the points and connect them with smooth
curve.
Example 14
Find the base of the exponential function whose

graph contains the given points.
a. (1, 4)
b. (2/3 , 4)
Exercise A
Evaluate the following for the indicated value(s) of x.
1. f(x) = 3x; x = 1, x=
2. f(x) = 4 - 3x; x = 4, x=
3. g(x) = 3ˣ; x = , x = 4
4. h(x) = ;x = , x = -1
5. f(x) = 3ˣ⁻¹; x = 2, x = -2
Exercise B
Make a table of coordinates then graph each
function.
1. f(x) = 5ˣ 6. g(x) = 4⁻ˣ⁺²
2. f(x) = 6⁻ˣ 7. h(x) =
3. g(x) = -5ˣ
4. f(x) = 3ˣ⁻² 8. f(x) =
5. f(x) =
Exercise C
Find the base of the exponential function whose
graph contains the given points.
1. (2, 16) 5. (4, )
2. (1, 10)
3. (3, 64) 6. ( , 27)
4. (3, )

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Exponential Functions

Note: The negative exponent does not make the

Reflection – a transformation that produces a

Translation – a shift or movement in a figure’s

Glide Reflection – a combination of a reflection

a. Translate the triangle 4 units to

b. Translate the parallelogram

a. triangle MNP by translating the triangle

b. the isosceles trapezoid LOVE by

2. Based on the tree diagram, the number of

c. What is the required number of texting stages

where b > 0, b ≠ 1, and x is any real number

In the equation f(x) = bˣ, b is a constant called

The following are not exponential functions.

1. The domain is the set of real numbers, (-∞, ∞).

1. Reflection in the x-axis: f(x) = -f(x)

2. Reflection in the y-axis: f(x) = f(-x)

Sketch the graph: y = eˣ and y = e⁻ˣ.

Sketch the graph of each natural exponential

Find the base of the exponential function whose

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