1.

5 Limits Involving Exponential

and Logarithmic Functions
(MAT051 - Calculus 1)

NESTOR G. ACALA, PhD

Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City
[email protected]
The Exponential Function
 The Exponential Function

Exponential Function
The exponential function with base b is dened by

y = f (x) = b x , b > 0.
 The Exponential Function

Exponential Function
The exponential function with base b is dened by

y = f (x) = b x , b > 0.

Here, Df = R and If = R+ .
 x −2 −1 0 1 2 3 x
−2 −1 0 1 2 3
1 1 1 x 1 1 1
y = 2x 4 2 1 2 4 8 y= 2 4 2 1 2 4 8
y
y
8 • (3, 8)
(−3, 8) • 8
7
 x 7
6 y = 2x 1
y= 6
5 2
5
4 • (2, 4)
(−2, 4) • 4
3
3
2 • (1, 2)
(0, 
1) (−1, 2) • 2
−1, 1

−2, 1

2 • 1 1
4
 
1,
2 1
 
•
(0, 1) •
x
1 2,
• 4
•
-2 -1 1 2 3
-3 -2 -1 1
•
2
x
The graph of y = e x , (e is the y
natural number or Euler's number, 8
e ≈ 2.718) 7
• (2, e 2 )

6 y = ex
5

3
• (1, e)
2
(0, 1)
−1, 1e

• 1

x −2 −1 0 1 2 •
•
x
1 1
1 e e2
-2 -1 1 2 3
y = ex e 2
e
 Some poperties of the function y = b x , b > 0, b ̸= 1

1. The function is one-to-one and its graph is asymptotic to the x -axis

2. If a > 1, the graph is increasing, if a < 1, the graph is decreasing.
3. The y −intercept is at (0,1).
4. The domain is Df = R.
5. The image is R+ = If = {y : y > 0}. Hence, the graph is located above
the x -axis.
 Limits Involving Exponential Functions

Theorem. Let b > 0 and a ∈ R. Then

lim b x = b a .
x→a

The above theorem implies that limits of exponential functions as x → a, a ∈ R

can be obtained using direct substitution.
Example.

1. lim e x = e 0 = 1
x→0
2. lim 3e 2−x = 3e 2−(−1) = 3e
2 2

x→−1

3. lim 32x−1 = 32(2)−1 = 33 = 81

x→2
√ √ √
4. lim− (5e 4−x + x − 3) = 5e 0 + 4 − 3 = 5 + 2 − 3 = 4.
x→4
1 1 1
 
5. lim + 3x+5 − 4 = 3(−3)+5 − 4 = −4 − 4 = 24 − 4 = 16 − 4 = 12.
x→−3 2 2 2
Consider the graphs of exponential • Observe that when b > 1, the
functions with bases b > 1: value of f (x) = b x increases without
y y = ex bound as x increases without bound.
That is

lim b x = ∞.
x→∞

y = bx , b > 1 On the other hand, the values of

f (x) = b x tend to zero as x
•
(0, 1)
approaches to negative innity. That
x is,
lim b x = 0.
x→−∞
Consider this graph of exponential • Observe that when 0 < b < 1, the
function with base 0 < b < 1: values of f (x) = b x tend to zero as x
y = bx , 0 < b < 1 y y = e x increases without bound. That is

lim b x = 0.
x→∞

On the other hand, the value of

f (x) = b x increases without bound x
(0, 1)
approaches to negative innity. That
• is,
x lim b x = ∞.
x→−∞
Theorem. Let b > 0, b ̸= 1. Then
∞, if b > 1

i. lim b =
x
x→∞ 0, if 0 < b < 1
0, if b > 1

ii. lim b x =
x→−∞ ∞, if 0 < b < 1.
In particular,
lim e x = ∞ and lim e x = 0.
x→∞ x→−∞
Example.

1. lim e 2x = ∞
x→∞
 x
1
2. lim =0
x→∞ 2
1 1
3. lim 2x−2 = lim 2x · 2−2 = lim 2x = · 0 = 0
x→−∞ x→−∞ 4 x→−∞ 4
2
4. lim 2e −x = lim = 0.
x→∞ x→∞ e x
2
5. lim = ∞.
x→−∞ 3x
 The Logarithmic Function

For b > 0 and b ̸= 1, y = b x is one-to-one. Hence, the inverse of y = b x is a

function. Its inverse is the function x = b y .

The logarithmic function with base b , denoted by y = logb x is dened

as the inverse of y = b x ,b > 0, b =
̸ 1. That is,

y = logb x ⇐⇒ x = b y .

The domain of the logarithmic function y = logb x is R+ . Hence, logarithmic

functions are dened only for positive real numbers.
 Example. Find the value of log2 32.

Solution: Let y = log2 32. Now,

y = log2 32 =⇒ 2y = 25
=⇒ 2y = 25
=⇒ y = 5.

Thus, log2 32 = 5.
 Example. Find the value of 2 log√3 9.

Solution: Let y = 2 log√3 9. Now,

y
y = 2 log√3 9 =⇒ = log√3 32
2
√  y
3 = 32
2
=⇒
=⇒ 3 = 32
y
4

y
=⇒ = 2 =⇒ y = 8.
4
Thus, 2 log√3 9 = 8.
 Example. Sketch the graph of y = log2 x .

Solution: We write y = log2 x to its y = log2 x

y
equivalent exponential form x = 2y
and assign values for y to determine 3
(8, 3)
•
the corresponding x -values. (4, 2)
1 1 2 •
x 4 2 1 2 4 8 (2, 1)

y −2 −1 0 1 2 3
1 •
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
•
(1, 0)
x
• 1 , −1
 
-1
2
1
 
-2 • 4 , −2
 Example. Sketch the graph of y = ln x .

Solution: Note that y

y = ln x
3

(e 2 , 2)
2 •

y = ln x = loge x ⇐⇒ x = e y . 1 • (e, 1)
(1, 0)
•
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
x
1 , −1
 
•
-1 e

1 1
x =e y
e 2
e 1 e e2 •-2

y −2 −1 0 1 2
The properties of logarithmic function y = logb x are derived from the properties
of exponential function y = b x . Below is the table of comparison of some of
their properties.
Properties of y = bx , b > 0, b ̸= 1: Properties of y = logb x , b > 0, b ̸= 1
1.The graph is asymptotic to x -axis. 1. The graph is asymptotic to y -axis.
2. The y -intercept is (0,1). 2. The x -intercept is (1,0).

3. df = R 3. df = {x : x > 0}
4. if = {y : y > 0} 4. if =R
Logarithms to the base 10 are called common logarithms , those with base e
are called natural logarithms.

Remark. For any base b > 0,

logb b = 1 and logb 1 = 0.

In particular,

ln e = 1, log 10 = 1, ln 1 = 0, and log 1 = 0.

 Limits Involving Logarithmic Functions

Theorem. Let b > 0 and a > 0. Then

lim logb x = logb a.

x→a

Example.

1. lim log2 x = log2 2 = 1

x→2
2. lim ln(3x − 8) = ln 1 = 0
x→3
Consider the following graph of natural Observe that as values of x tend to
logarithmic function: zero from the right, f (x) = ln x
decreases without bound. That is,
y

f (x) = ln x lim ln x = −∞ .
x→0+

Moreover, as the values of x increase

(1, 0)
• x withound bound, values of f (x) = ln x
also increase without bound. That is,

lim ln x = ∞ .
x→∞
In general, we have the following theorem.

Theorem. Let b >0. Then

−∞, if b > 1
1. lim+ logb x =
x→0 ∞, if 0 < b < 1
2. lim logb x = ∞.
x→∞