3.

1—Exponential & Logarithmic Functions

Definition of Exponential Function

An exponential function is of the form 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏𝑥 , 𝑎 ≠ 0, where 𝑏 > 1 or 0 < 𝑏 < 1.

𝑏 is called the base where 𝑏 ∈ ℝ.

𝑎 is the vertical dilation factor or called the initial value as well as the 𝑦 intercept of the graph.

Depending on what kind of base is being used will tell us if the function is a growth or a decay function.

Exponential Growth Exponential Decay

𝑎 > 0 and 𝑏 > 1 𝑎 > 0 and 0 < 𝑏 < 1

End Behavior (Exponential Growth) End Behavior (Exponential Decay)

Increasing and Decreasing Concave Up and Concave Down

Exponential functions are always increasing or always Exponential functions are always concave up or always
decreasing. They will never switch from one to the other, concave down. They will never switch concavity, so they
so they have no local extrema. have no points of inflection.

Example 1:
For each of the following exponential functions: (i) write a limit statement to describe the end behavior, (ii) determine if
the function is increasing or decreasing, and (iii) determine if the function if concave up or concave down.
a) b)

c) 𝑓 (𝑥) = 5(23) d) 𝑔(𝑥) = 3(4)𝑥

𝑥

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Every operation has exactly one inverse (opposite) operation. We would like to eventually solve equations involving
exponential functions, which creates the need of an inverse related to exponentiation.

Just as we can write rational numbers in decimal form and fraction form (0.5 = 12), we can also write equations in
exponential or logarithmic form. These forms create equivalent statements that represent the same claim. We are not
changing the problem when we convert back and forth, we are simply re-writing the equation in an equivalent form.

Exponential Form Logarithmic Form

𝑏𝑎 = 𝑐 log𝑏 𝑐 = 𝑎

If the base of a log expression is 10, we call this the “common base” and the log is written without a base. If the base of a
log expression is 𝑒, we call this the “natural base” and the log expression is written as ln

log10 2 = log 2 log𝑒 5 = ln 5

common Base natural log

Example 2:
Rewrite each exponential expression into logarithmic form.
Bare to
base

a) 82⁄3 = 4 b) 6−1 = 16 c) 102 = 100 d) 𝑦 = 𝑒3𝑥

logs4 log100 2 In y 3x

Example 3:
Rewrite each equation from log form to exponential form.

a) log7 (𝑥) = 2 b) 𝑥 = log3 (𝑦) c) log(𝑦) = 2 d) ln(𝑐) = 4

Example 4:
Consider the expression (1 + 1𝑛) . Complete the table below using a graphing calculator.
𝑛

𝒏 𝟏 𝒏
( 𝟏 +
𝒏)
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
1,000,000
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A special kind of exponential function is 𝑒𝑥 . The value of 𝑒 is called the natural base, as it appears a lot in nature
(population growth, finance, science applications, etc.) The value of e is calculated by the formula (1 + 1𝑛) , where 𝑛 is
𝑛

the number of times that the expression is calculated. The more times that your rate is calculated, you will approach the
value of e, which is approximately 2.718281… The value of 𝑒 is considered an irrational number, such as 𝜋, and the
function 𝑒𝑥 has the same properties that other exponential functions have.
Exponential Function Log Function
𝑏𝑥 = 𝑎 log𝑏 (𝑎) = 𝑥

Natural Base Function Natural Log Function

𝑒𝑥 = 𝑎 ln(𝑥) = 𝑎
Common Base Function Common Base Log
10𝑥 = 𝑎 log(𝑥) = 𝑎

RULE: Since 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑏𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = log𝑏 (𝑥) are one to one functions:

(1) If 𝑏𝑥 = 𝑏𝑦 , then 𝑥 = 𝑦

(2) If log𝑏 (𝑥) = log𝑏 (𝑦), then 𝑥 = 𝑦

Properties of Common Logs Properties of Natural Logs Properties of Logs Base 𝒃

• log(1) =___________ • ln(1) =__________ • log𝑏 (1) =__________

• log(10) =_________ • ln(𝑒) =__________ • log𝑏 (𝑏) =__________

• log(10𝑥 )__________ • ln(𝑒𝑥 ) =_________ • log𝑏 (𝑏𝑥 ) =_________

• 10log(𝑥) =________ • 𝑒ln(𝑥) =__________ • 𝑏log𝑏(𝑥) =__________

Example 5:
Evaluate each logarithmic expression.

a) log5 (125) = b) log2 (16) = c) 4 log9 (3) = 1099 3 d) log6 (36

1
)=

5 125 JILY loga 81

2
4 2 2

e) log1 (625) = f) log(1,000,000

1
)= g) log(0.01) = h) ln(𝑒3 ) =
5

e e

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i) log6 (1) = j) log5 (√5) = k) log36 (√36) = l) 7log7 (3) =
4
3

6 1 log 71093
5 55 36 4536
7

m) 36log36(216) = n) log(𝑒i𝑙𝑛(100) ) = o) ln ( 1 ) = p) log5 (3n

log3 (5)
)=
√𝑒

log 100 2
log 5 1

Example 6:
Find the inverse of each function and then check that your answer is the correct answer.

(a) 𝑓 (𝑥) = 42𝑥−1 (b) 𝑓 (𝑥) = log3 (4𝑥 − 7)

(c) 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑒3𝑥−5 (d) 𝑓 (𝑥) = ln(8𝑥 + 5)

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