Exponential and

Logarithmic Functions
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Exponential Functions and Their Graphs
Logarithmic Functions and Their Graphs
Properties of Logarithms
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations
3
3.5 Exponential and Logarithmic Models

Carbon dating is a method used to

determine the ages of archeological
artifacts up to 50,000 years old. For
example, archeologists are using
carbon dating to determine the ages
of the great pyramids of Egypt.
© Sylvain Grandadam/Getty Images

S E L E C T E D A P P L I C AT I O N S
Exponential and logarithmic functions have many real-life applications. The applications listed below
represent a small sample of the applications in this chapter.

• Computer Virus, • Galloping Speeds of Animals, • IQ Scores,

Exercise 65, page 227 Exercise 85, page 244 Exercise 47, page 266
• Data Analysis: Meteorology, • Average Heights, • Forensics,
Exercise 70, page 228 Exercise 115, page 255 Exercise 63, page 268
• Sound Intensity, • Carbon Dating, • Compound Interest,
Exercise 90, page 238 Exercise 41, page 266 Exercise 135, page 273

217
218 Chapter 3 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

3.1 Exponential Functions and Their Graphs

What you should learn
• Recognize and evaluate expo-
Exponential Functions
nential functions with base a. So far, this text has dealt mainly with algebraic functions, which include poly-
• Graph exponential functions nomial functions and rational functions. In this chapter, you will study two types
and use the One-to-One of nonalgebraic functions—exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
Property. These functions are examples of transcendental functions.
• Recognize, evaluate, and graph
exponential functions with
base e. Definition of Exponential Function
• Use exponential functions to The exponential function f with base a is denoted by
model and solve real-life
problems. f
x
a x
where a > 0, a  1, and x is any real number.
Why you should learn it
Exponential functions can be
used to model and solve real-life The base a
1 is excluded because it yields f
x
1x
1. This is a constant
problems. For instance, in function, not an exponential function.
Exercise 70 on page 228, an You have evaluated a x for integer and rational values of x. For example, you
exponential function is used to know that 43
64 and 412
2. However, to evaluate 4x for any real number x,
model the atmospheric pressure you need to interpret forms with irrational exponents. For the purposes of this
at different altitudes. text, it is sufficient to think of
a2 (where 2  1.41421356)
as the number that has the successively closer approximations
a1.4, a1.41, a1.414, a1.4142, a1.41421, . . . .

Example 1 Evaluating Exponential Functions

Use a calculator to evaluate each function at the indicated value of x.

Function Value
a. f
x
2 x x
3.1
b. f
x
2x x

c. f
x
0.6x x
32
Solution
© Comstock Images/Alamy
Function Value Graphing Calculator Keystrokes Display
a. f
3.1
23.1 2 
 3.1 ENTER 0.1166291
>

b. f

2 2 
  ENTER 0.1133147

>

c. f
2 

0.632
3 
.6  3  2 ENTER 0.4647580
>

Now try Exercise 1.

The HM mathSpace® CD-ROM and
Eduspace® for this text contain When evaluating exponential functions with a calculator, remember to
additional resources related to the enclose fractional exponents in parentheses. Because the calculator follows the
concepts discussed in this chapter. order of operations, parentheses are crucial in order to obtain the correct result.
 Section 3.1 Exponential Functions and Their Graphs 219

Exploration Graphs of Exponential Functions

The graphs of all exponential functions have similar characteristics, as shown in
Note that an exponential function
Examples 2, 3, and 5.
f
x
a x is a constant raised
to a variable power, whereas a
power function g
x
x n is a Example 2 Graphs of y  ax
variable raised to a constant
power. Use a graphing utility In the same coordinate plane, sketch the graph of each function.
to graph each pair of functions
a. f
x
2x b. g
x
4x
in the same viewing window.
Describe any similarities and Solution
differences in the graphs. The table below lists some values for each function, and Figure 3.1 shows the
a. y1
2x, y2
x2 graphs of the two functions. Note that both graphs are increasing. Moreover, the
graph of g
x
4x is increasing more rapidly than the graph of f
x
2x.
b. y1
3x, y2
x3
x 3 2 1 0 1 2
1 1 1
2x 8 4 2 1 2 4
y g(x) = 4x 1 1 1
4x 64 16 4 1 4 16
16
14
12 Now try Exercise 11.
10
8 The table in Example 2 was evaluated by hand. You could, of course, use a
6 graphing utility to construct tables with even more values.
4
2 f(x) = 2x Example 3 Graphs of y  a –x
x
− 4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4
−2 In the same coordinate plane, sketch the graph of each function.
FIGURE 3.1 a. F
x
2x b. G
x
4x
Solution
G(x) = 4 −x y The table below lists some values for each function, and Figure 3.2 shows the
graphs of the two functions. Note that both graphs are decreasing. Moreover, the
16
graph of G
x
4x is decreasing more rapidly than the graph of F
x
2x.
14
12
10 x 2 1 0 1 2 3
8 1 1 1
2x 4 2 1 2 4 8
6
1 1 1
4 4x 16 4 1 4 16 64

F(x) = 2 −x
x
− 4 −3 −2 −1 1 2 3 4 Now try Exercise 13.
−2

In Example 3, note that by using one of the properties of exponents, the func-
FIGURE 3.2
tions F
x
2x and G
x
4x can be rewritten with positive exponents.

 
x x
1 1 1
1
F
x
2x

and G
x
4x

2x 2 4x 4
220 Chapter 3 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Comparing the functions in Examples 2 and 3, observe that

F
x
2x
f
x and G
x
4x
g
x.
Consequently, the graph of F is a reflection (in the y-axis) of the graph of f. The
graphs of G and g have the same relationship. The graphs in Figures 3.1 and 3.2
are typical of the exponential functions y
a x and y
ax. They have one
y-intercept and one horizontal asymptote (the x-axis), and they are continuous.
The basic characteristics of these exponential functions are summarized in
Figures 3.3 and 3.4.
y Graph of y
a x, a > 1
• Domain:
 , 
Notice that the range of an • Range:
0, 
exponential function is
0, , • Intercept:
0, 1
which means that a x > 0 for all y = ax • Increasing
values of x. (0, 1) • x-axis is a horizontal asymptote

ax → 0 as x→ 
x
• Continuous

FIGURE 3.3
y Graph of y
ax, a > 1
• Domain:
 , 
• Range:
0, 
• Intercept:
0, 1
y = a −x • Decreasing
(0, 1) • x-axis is a horizontal asymptote

ax → 0 as x→ 
x
• Continuous

FIGURE 3.4

From Figures 3.3 and 3.4, you can see that the graph of an exponential
function is always increasing or always decreasing. As a result, the graphs pass
the Horizontal Line Test, and therefore the functions are one-to-one functions.
You can use the following One-to-One Property to solve simple exponential
equations.
For a > 0 and a  1, ax
ay if and only if x
y. One-to-One Property

Example 4 Using the One-to-One Property

a. 9
3x1 Original equation

32
3x1 9
32
2
x1 One-to-One Property
1
x Solve for x.

b.

1 x
2
8 ⇒ 2x
23 ⇒ x
3
Now try Exercise 45.