2023 - 2024 CAPE Mathematics Unit 1 Module 1: Basic Algebra and Functions

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions - Handout # 8

A function of the form y = ax for a  R, a > 0, x  R is an exponential function, with a termed the
base and x the power (or exponent). A logarithmic function is the inverse of an exponential
function, so if y = ax, then by the definition of a logarithm, the loga y = x (will be explored further
later).
1] The Logarithmic Function
The logarithm or log of a number is the power (or exponent) to which the base is raised to give
the number. For example, 100 = 102, therefore the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 equals 2
i.e., log 10
100 = 2.

Recall: If y = ax, then log a

y = x and vice-versa. Therefore, a logarithmic function is the inverse

of an exponential function i.e., y = ax  log y = x; a  R+

a

Logarithms to the base e are called natural logarithms (or Naperian logarithms).
If the base of the logarithm of x is 10, we refer to this as a common logarithm.

Properties of the Logarithmic Function

The graph of y = log x is a reflection in the line y = x of the graph of y = ax.
a

Since log a
x is defined only when x > 0, there are no points on the graph of y = log a
x for

which x ≤ 0.
When x =1, y = log 1 = 0 (recall 1 = a0), therefore the graph of y = log x passes through the
a a

point (1, 0) for all values of a.

y=ax
y=x

y = logax

x
1
O

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Laws of Logarithms
1) log a
1=0 So, log 1 = 0 i.e., ln 1= 0
e

2) log a
a=1 So, log e = 1 i.e., ln e = 1
e

3) log a
(PQ) = log P +
a
log a
Q So, ln (PQ) = ln P + ln Q

P P
4) log ( )= log P– log Q So, ln ( ) = ln P – ln Q
a Q a a Q

5) log a
P q = q log P
a
So, log ax = x log a = x
a a

And, log ex = x i.e., ln ex = x ln e = x (1) = x

e

1 1
1 p p 1
6) log a
p
Q = log Q =
a p
log a
Q
So,
p
ln Q = ln Q =
p
ln Q

The relationship between logarithms to different bases leads to TWO useful formulae

1 1 1
1) log a
x=
log x a
(Can you prove this result), So log x =
e log x e
i.e., ln x =
log x e
log b x log b x log b x
2) log a
x=
log b a
(Can you prove this result), So log x =
e log b e
i.e., ln x =
log b e
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑝 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑄
Therefore, ( log p) ( log Q) = ( ) ( 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑝 )
a p 1 𝑎

= 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑄

2] Recall: The Laws of Indices

For all values of m and n
(i) am  an = am + n (ii) am ÷ an = am – n
(iii) (am)n = amn (iv) a0 = 1
1 1
1 − 1
(v) a –m
= m (vi) a = a ; so a
m m m
= m
a a
m
 1
( a) OR a n = (a m )n = n a m
m m 1
(vii) a =  a n  =
m
n n

 
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3] The graph of y = ax for a ∈ R+
y

y=2x
y = 1.5 x

y=1x
y = 0.5 x
x
O

The diagram above shows the graphs of y = ax for various positive values of a.
Each graph lies entirely above the x-axis, or in other words y is always positive. In other
words, y = ax never touch or crosses the x-axis for all real values of x, that is, y is never zero
or negative (y > 0). Therefore, the inverse function log a
y = x only exists for x > 0.

Each graph cuts the y-axis at the point (0, 1). If the constant k represents the gradient of a
particular curve at the point (0, 1), we see that as a increases, k also increases, taking negative
values for 0 < a < 1, and positive values for a > 1.
The value of a for which k = 1is denoted by e, which is an irrational number, equal to 2.71828 to
5 decimal places. The function y = ex is called the exponential function.

4] The Exponential Function

If y = log x rewriting, we have log x = y, then by the definition of a logarithm x = ey.

e e
log e x
Therefore, x = ey, substituting for y, we have x = e
.
ln x
Given log x, is written as ln x, we can write x = e = e y
e .
ln x a

That is, e lnx = x AND e alnx ≡ e = xa

The exponential function y = ex has as its inverse y = ln x.

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Proof
Given f(x) = ex

Step 1: Let y = f(x)

So, y = ex

Step 2: Make x the subject by taking loge i.e., ln of both sides

ln y = ln ex
ln y = x ln e
ln y = x (1)

Step 3: Interchange x and y

ln x = y
 ln x = f –1(x)
y

y = ex

Gradient at (0, 1) = 1
1

x
O

Some Properties of the Exponential Function (Based on the Laws of Indices)

(i) e a + b = e a  e b
ea
(ii) e a - b =
eb
(iii) (e a) b = e ab
1
(iv) e - a =
ea
a
− 1
(v) e b = a
eb
a
 1
e = (e )
a 1
(vi) b a b
=  e b 
 

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Practise Exercise 1 - Simplifying Expressions Using the Laws of Logarithms
𝑎 1
1) a) log(ab) b) log (𝑏) c) log (𝑎2 𝑏) d) log (√𝑎) e) log (𝑎2 ) f) log (𝑎√𝑏)
𝑎3 𝑎2 𝑎 1 1 6
g) log ( 𝑏 ) h) log (𝑏3 ) i) log (√𝑏) j) log (𝑎𝑏4) k) log ( ) l) log (√𝑎2 𝑏)
√𝑎𝑏
1 1
Ans. loga + logb, loga – logb, 2loga + logb, 2loga, – 2loga, loga + 2logb, 3loga – logb,
1 1 1
2loga – 3logb, 2(loga – logb), – (loga + 4logb),− 2(loga + logb), 6(2loga + logb)

2) a) log3 + log4 b) log15 – log3 c) log2 + log3 + log5

1 1
d) 2log3 + log4 – log12 e) 3log2 + 2log5 – log20 f) 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔80 − 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔5
1
g) 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 + 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 − 3𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑐
𝑎√𝑏
Ans. log12, log5, log30, log3, log10, log4, log ( )
𝑐3

3) Given x and y are both positive, solve the simultaneous equations

𝑥
log10 (𝑥𝑦) = 7 log10 (𝑦) = 1
Ans. x = 10 000, y = 1000
1
4) Given that log(p – q + 1) = 0 and log(pq) + 1 = 0, show that p = q = .
√10

Practise Exercise 2 - Simplifying Expressions Using the Laws of Logarithms

1) Express in terms of log x and log y

 x4 
(a) log x2y (b) log xy (c) log  3 
y 
𝟏
Ans. 2log x + log y; 𝟐 (log 𝑥 + log 𝑦); 4 log 𝑥 − 3log𝑦

2) Express in terms of log A, log B and log C

 AB 2  A B
(a) log  3  (b) log  −2  (c) log A3 B 2 C
 C   C 
𝟏 𝟏
Ans. log A + 2log B – 3log C; log 𝐴 + 𝟐 log 𝐵 + 2 log 𝐶; 𝟐 (3log 𝐴 + 2log 𝐵 + log 𝐶)

3) Express as a single logarithm

1
(a) log 14 – log 21 + log 6 (b) 4log 2 + log 25
2
3 2 8
(c) log 9 – 2log 6 (d) 2log ( ) – log ( )
2 3 9
3 1
Ans. log 4; log 80; log 4; log 2

5
4) Find the values of
log a 32 log x 125 log 3 x
(a) (b) (c)
log a 2 log x 25 log 9 x
3
Ans. 5; 2; 2

5) Given that log3 2 = p and log3 5 = q, express in terms of p and q

(a) log3 60 (b) log3 6.4 (c) log10 2
𝑝
Ans. 1 + 2p + q; 5p – q; 𝑝+𝑞

6) Given that log5 x = t, express in terms of t

(a) log5 5x2 (b) logx 5 (c) log25 x (d) logx 0.2
1 𝑡 1
Ans. 1 + 2t; 𝑡 ; 2 ; − 𝑡

7) Simplifying the following expressions

5 10 1 1 1
(a) 3log2 ( ) – 2log2 ( ) + log2 ( ) (b) loga a4 +1 – loga (1 + 4 )
3 9 30 2 a
(c) log4 [(a + 1) – (a – 1)2] – log2 2a
2 2 2

Ans. – 3; 2; 0
8) Prove that, if a, b and c are positive real numbers, then ( log b)( log c) = log c
a b a

Practise Exercise 3 - Use of Logarithms to solve equations of the form ax = b

𝑙𝑛2
1) Solve the equation, 3x = 2 x + 1 Ans. 3
ln ( )
2

2) Solve the equation, 5x – 2 = 20 Ans. 3.86

3) Solve for x the equation 3x = 5x – 1 Ans. 3.15
4) Solve for x  R the equation 22x + 1 = 6 Ans. 0.792
42 x
5) Solve the equation x2
= 32 Ans. 1, – 5
1
 
2
6) 52x + 5x = 12 Ans. 0.683
7) By using y = 2x, or otherwise solve 4x – 3(2x + 1) + 8 = 0 Ans. 1, 2
8) Solve for x the equation e2x – 3ex – 4 = 0 Ans. ln 4
9) Solve for x the equation e2x – 10(ex) + 9 = 0 Ans. 0, ln 9
10) Solve the equation e2x – 2ex = 3, for real x. Ans. ln 3

11) Given that ex – e –x = 4, show that x = ln (2 + 5 ).

6
 5±√21
12) Solve for x the equation ex + e – x = 5 Ans. ln( )
2
1
13) Solve for x the following equation e2x + 2e –2x = 3. Ans. 0, 2 ln2

Practise Exercise 4 - Solve Problems involving changing of the base of a Logarithm

1) Solve for x, x > 0, the equations
(a) log 3
x = 4 log 3
x
(b) 2 log x + 3 log 4 = 7
4 x

(c) 3 log x = 2 log 8 + 5 (d) log x + log 25 = 3

8 x 5 x

1 1
Ans. 9, 9; 2, 64; 2, 64; 5, 25

2) Solve for x, x > 0, the equations

(a) log 2
4x = 8 log 2
x
(b) log 9
x= log 3
3x
1 1
Ans. 16, 4; 9

Sample Examination Questions

1) Given that x = 3y, y > 0 then logx 3 is equal to
1 3
(A) y (B) 3y (C) (D)
y y
–1
2) Given that f(x) = 2 – e , the inverse function, f (x), for x < 2 is
2x

1
(A) ln (2 − x) (B) ln (2 – 2x) (C) 2 ln (2 − x) (D) ln (2 − x)
2
3) Without the use of calculators or tables, evaluate

log10   + log10   + log10   + …+ log10   + log10  

1 2 3 8 9
Ans. – 1
2 3 4 9  10 
1
4) (i) Show that log x y = for x, y  R+
log y x
1
(ii) Hence, if log x y = 2 + 3 log y x, find y as functions of x. Ans. y = x3, y = 𝑥

1
5) (i) Given that x = 2y, y > 0, express in terms of y (a) log2 x (b) logx 2 Ans. y, 𝑦
1
(ii) Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation log2 x = 8 logx 2 + 2 Ans. 4 , 16

7
6) (a) Given log103 = m, express in terms of m, log10  
3
Ans. m – 1
 10 
(b) Find the value of x  R for which 3x = 7 Ans. 1.77
7) Given that loga (bc) = x, logb (ca) = y, logc (ab) = z and a ≠ b ≠ c, show that axbycz = (abc)2
1
8) Solve for x > 0 the equation 3log8 x = 2logx 8 – 5 Ans. 64 , 2
1
9) Solve the equation log4 x = 1 + log2 2x, x > 0 Ans. 16

10) Solve the equation log2 (x + 3) + log2 (x2 + 5x – 4) = 3 Ans. 1

11) (a) Solve the simultaneous equations log (x – 2) + log 2 = 2log y
log (x – 3y + 3) = 0 Ans.4, 2; 10, 4
(b) Solve the simultaneous equations log (x – 1) + 2log y = 2log 3
log x + log y = log 6 Ans. (2, 3)

12) Solve the simultaneous equations for x > 0, y > 0

xy=4
2 ln x = ln 2 + ln y Ans. (2, 2) [6]
2
13) Solve for a, log a 2 + = 3, a > 0. Ans. 2 [6]
log 2 a
2
13) Solve for a, 𝑙𝑜𝑔2 𝑎 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔 = 3, a > 0. Ans. 2 [6]
2𝑎

2
14) (a) If 2loga 2 + loga 10 – 3loga 3 = 3 + loga 5, a > 0, find the value of a. Ans. 3 [5]

(b) Find the value(s) of x  R which satisfy 2log3 x = log3 (x + 6). Ans. 3 [5]

15) In the diagram shown below, not drawn to scale, find the coordinates (c, d), (a, b) and
(m, n).
y

y = e2x
y = 2ex

(c, d)

(a, b)

(m, n)
x
O
Determine the values of a, b, c, d, m and n. Ans.ln2, 4, 0, 2, 0, 1 [7]

8
16) In the diagram shown below, not drawn to scale, the line y = 3 cuts the curve y = e2x at
the point (a, b).
y

y = e2x

y=3

(a, b)
(0, 1)
x
O

1
Calculate the values of a and b. Ans. 2ln3, 3 [4]

17) The diagram below, not drawn to scale, shows two points, P (p, 0.368) and R (3.5, r), on
f(x) = ex for x  R.
y

f(x) = ex

R
P

x
O

(i) Copy the diagram above and on the same axes, sketch the graph of g(x) = ln x [3]
(ii) Describe clearly the relationship between f(x) = ex and g(x) = ln x [3]
(iii) Using a calculator, find the value of (a) r (b) p Ans. 33.1, – 1 [3]

9
18) In the diagram below, not drawn to scale, the curves y = 2e –2x and y = e –x intersect at
P (p, q).
y

y = 2e –2x

y = e –x

P(p, q)

x
O

1
Determine the values of p and q. Ans. ln2, 2 [5]

19) The variation of the solubility, S, of a chemical substance with temperature, θ, can
be modelled by the equation S = 60.2 (1.01)θ, where θ is an integer. Calculate the value
of θ when S is 100. Ans. 51.0 [2]

𝑎+𝑏
20) (a) Given that a3 + b3 + 3a2b = 5ab2, show that 3log( ) = log a + 2log b. [5]
2

(b) solve EACH of the following equations:

1
(i) ex + 𝑒 𝑥 – 2 = 0 Ans. 0 [4]
3
(ii) log2 (x + 1) – log2 (3x + 1) = 2. Ans. − 11 [4] (2014)

End of Handout # 8
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