Engineering Math 1 (COE0001)

Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Disclaimer: The following information is condensed from Louis

Leithold’s College Algebra and Trigonometry.

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential Function with Base b

Definition
If b > 0, b 6= 1, then the exponential function with base b
is the function defined by

f (x) = b x .

Domain: <
Range: <+

Note: If b = 1, then b x becomes 1x and since 1x = 1 for any

x, we have a constant function.

3 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Illustration

f (x) = 2x
 x
1
f (x) =
2

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Natural Exponential Function

Definition
The natural exponential function is the function f defined
by

f (x) = e x

Domain: <
Range: <+

Note: e ≈ 2.7182818. The letter e was chosen because of the

Swiss mathematician and physicist Leonard Euler (1707-1783).

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential Function

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential Growth and Decay

Exponential growth and exponential decay give

mathematical models involving powers of e.

7 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential Growth

Definition
A function defined by an equation of the form

f (t) = Be kt , t≥0

where B and k are positive constants, is said to describe

exponential growth.

Note: As t → +∞, Be kt → +∞

8 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Example:

In a particular bacterial culture, if f (t) bacteria are present at

t minutes, then

f (t) = Be 0.04t

where B is a constant. If there are 1500 bacteria present

initially, how many bacteria will be present after 1 hour?

9 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Example:

The population of a particular town is increasing proportional

to its size. If this rate is 6% and if the population after t years
is P(t), then

P(t) = ke 0.06t

where k is a constant. If the current population is 10, 000,

what is the expected population after (a) 10 years and (b) 20
years?

10 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential Decay

Definition
A function defined by an equation of the form

f (t) = Be −kt , t≥0

where B and k are positive constants, is said to describe

exponential decay.

Note: As t → +∞, Be −kt → 0+

11 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Example:

If V (t) pesos is the value of a certain piece of equipment t

years after its purchase, then

V (t) = Be −0.20t

where B is a constant. If the equipment was purchased for

8,000Php, what will be its value in 2 years?

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Example:

The value of a particular machine t years after its purchase is

v (t) pesos, where

v (t) = ke −0.30t

and k is a constant. If the machine was purchased 8 years ago

for 10,000Php, what is its value now?

13 / 28 Grachel C. Quiñones
 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Bounded Growth

Definition
Another mathematical model involving powers of e is given by
the function defined by

f (t) = A(1 − e −kt ) = A − Ae −kt .

This function describes bounded growth.

Note: If t = 0, we’ll have that f (0) = 0. As t → +∞,

Ae −kt → 0. This means that as t → +∞, A − Ae −kt → A.

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Example:

A typical worker at a certain factory can produce f (t) units

per day after t days on the job, where

f (t) = 50(1 − e −0.34t ).

a. How many units per day can the worker produce after 7
days on the job?
b. How many units per day can the worker eventually be
expected to produce?

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Logarithmic Functions with Base b

Definition
The logarithmic function with base b is the inverse of the
exponential function with base b.

y = logb x ⇐⇒ x = b y or
b y = x ⇐⇒ logb x = y

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Illustration

32 = 9 ⇐⇒ log3 9 = 2
23 = 8 ⇐⇒
1
5−2 = ⇐⇒
25
log6 1 = 0 ⇐⇒ 60 = 1
log10 10000 = 4 ⇐⇒
1
log8 2 = ⇐⇒
3

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Examples:

log7 49
√
log5 5
1
log6
6
log3 81
log10 0.001

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Examples:

log6 x = 2
2
log27 x =
3
1
logb 4 =
3
logb 81 = −2

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Logarithmic Functions

Notes: For b > 0, b 6= 1, x > 0 and y a real number,

b logb x = x
logb b y = y
logb 1 = 0
logb b = 1

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Natural Logarithmic Function

Definition
The natural logarithmic function is the inverse of the
natual exponential function.

y = loge x = ln x ⇐⇒ x = e y

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Natural Logarithmic Function

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Natural Logarithmic Function

Notes:
ln e = 1
e ln x = x
ln e x = x

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Properties of Logarithmic Functions

If b > 0, b 6= 1, n is any real number, and u and v are positive

numbers, then
logb uv = logb u + logb v
u
logb = logb u − logb v
v
logb u n = n logb u

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Illustration:

log2 4 · 8
128
log2
16
log2 43

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Examples

logb x 2 y 3 z 4
x
logb 2
yz
r
2
5 xy
logb
z3
log10 28
log10 2100

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Note: log x is used to represent log10 x.

log x = y ⇐⇒ 10y = x

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 Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Exponential and Logarithmic Equations

Examples:

Solve the following:

53x−1 = 0.08
7x = 3x+1
log4 19
log10 (x + 3) = 2
log2 (x + 4) − log2 (x − 3) = 3
log3 x + log3 (2x − 3) = 3

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