Diploma in Management Studies

Business Mathematics BUS003

Lecture 5 Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions
Topics to be discussed:
Exponential Functions
Graphs of Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Graphs of Logarithmic Functions
Exponential Functions as Mathematical Models
Ref: Tan, Chapter 3
1

Learning Outcomes
After this lecture, students should be able to:
Use the laws of exponential and logarithmic
f
functions
ti
and
d sketch
k t h their
th i graphs.
h
Understand the properties of exponential and
logarithmic functions
Understand the inverse relationship between the
exponential and logarithmic functions
Solve exponential growth and decay and logistic
growth problems

Exponential Function and its Laws

The function defined by f(x) = bx (b > 0, b 1) is
called an exponential function with base b and
exponent x. The domain of f is the set of all
real numbers.
Let a and b be positive numbers and let x and
y be real numbers. Then
1 .b x b y b x y

4 .( ab ) x a x b

bx
2. y b x y
b

ax
a
5 . x
b
b

3. b x

b xy
3

Examples of Exponential Laws

a.167 / 4 16 1/ 2 167 / 41/ 2 165 / 4 25 32
85 / 3
b. 1/ 3 85 / 3( 1/ 3) 82 64
8

c. 64 4 / 3

1 / 2

1
1
1
1

2
2/3
1/ 3 2
64
(64 )
4
16
1
1
1 1 1
1/ 4 1/ 4
16
81
2 3 6

64( 4 / 3)( 1/ 2 ) 64 2 / 3

d .(16 81) 1/ 4 16 1/ 4 811/ 4

4

31/ 2
34 / 2
9
e. 1/ 3 4 / 3 4 / 3
2
2
2
4

Examples of Exponential Functions

(1) Let f(x) = 22x-1. Find
the values of x for which
f(x) = 16
22x-1 = 16 = 24
2x-1 = 4x = 5/2
(2) Sketch the graph y = 2x
x -3 -1 0 1 2 3 5
y 1/8 1 2 4 8 32

1
x

Graph of y = 2x

Properties of the Exponential Functions

The exponential function y =bx (b > 0, b1) has
the following properties:
1. Its domain is (-,)
2. Its range is (0, )
3. Its graph passes through the point (0, 1)
4. Its graph is an unbroken curve devoid of
holes or jumps
5. Its graph rises from left to right if b > 1 and
falls from left to right if 0 < b < 1.

The Base e
The value of the
m
expression
1
1

m
approaches the irrational
number 2.7182818 as
m gets larger and larger.
We denote this number
by e.
e = 2.7182818

1
x
Graph of y = ex
y

1
x
Graph of y =

e-x
7

Exercise 5.1(a)
Evaluate and simplify the expression
(a )4

( b ) 9 ( 9 ) 1 / 2

(c )

( 3)4 ( 3)5
( 3)8

(d )

6a
3a

4
3

Answers to Exercise 5.1(a)

Exercise 5.1(b)
Solve the equation for x

(a )33 x 4 35
(b)(1.3) x 2 (1.3) 2 x 1
(c)32 x 12 3 x 27 0
10

Answers to Exercise 5.1(b)

11

Exercise 5.1(c)
Sketch the graph of the given functions
on the same axes
(a) y = 2x, y = 3x
(b) y = e0.5x, y = ex

12

Answers to Exercise 5.1(c)

13

Logarithmic Functions

From the exponential equation x =by (b > 0,

b1), the number y is called the logarithm of x
to the base b and is denoted by logbx.
It is the power to which the base b must be
raised in order to obtain the number x.
Logarithm of x to the Base b:
y = logbx if and only if x = by (x > 0)
Examples of Logarithms
(a) log10100 = 2 since 100 = 102
(b) log5125 = 3 since 125 = 53
(c) log2020 = 1 since 20 = 201

14

Logarithmic Notation
Two widely used systems of logarithms:
The system of common logarithms
logx = log10x
The system of natural logarithms
lnx = logex
Examples: Solve each of the equation for x
(a) log3x = 4 x = 34 = 81
(b) log164 = x 4 = 16x 4 = 42x2x = 1x=
(c) logx8 = 3 8 = x3 8 = 23 = x3 x = 2
15

Laws of Logarithms
If m and n are positive numbers, then
1. logbmn = logbm + logbn
2. log b m log b m log b n

3. logbmn = nlogbm
4.
4 log
l b1 = 0
5. logbb = 1
16

Examples of Logarithms
5
(a) log(2 3) log 2 log 3 (b). ln ln 5 ln 3
3
1
(c) log 7 log 71/ 2 log 7 (d ). log 5 1 0
2
(e) log 45 45 1
( f ) log 3 x 2 y 3 log 3 x 2 log 3 y 3 2 log 3 x 3 log 3 y
x2 1
log 2 ( x 2 1) log 2 2 x
x
2
log
l 2 ( x 2 1) x log
l 2 2 log
l 2 ( x 2 1) x

( g ) log 2

x2 x2 1
(h) ln
ln x 2 ln( x 2 1)1/ 2 ln e x
x
e
2 ln x 12 ln( x 2 1) x ln e 2 ln x 12 ln( x 2 1) x
17

Solving Logarithmic Problems

(1) log 3 ( x 1) log 3 ( x 1) 1

Domain: x > 1

x 1
x 1 1
1
3 3
x 1
x 1
x 1 3( x 1) 3 x 3 4 2 x x 2
log 3

(2) log x log(2 x 1) log 6

x(2 x 1)
log x log(2 x 1) log 6 0 log
0
6

x(2 x 1)

100 1 x(2 x 1) 6
6
2
2 x x 6 0 (2 x 3)( x 2) 0 x 32 or 2
1
Domain : x , then x 2
2
18

Logarithmic Functions and Their

Properties
The function f(x) = logbx (b > 0, b 1) is called the
logarithmic function with base b. The domain of f
i th
is
the sett off allll positive
iti numbers.
b
The logarithmic function has the properties:
1. Its domain is (0, ).
2. Its range is (-,).
3. Its graph passes through the point (1,0).
4. Its graph is an unbroken curve devoid of holes
or jumps.
5. Its graph rises from left to right if b > 1 and
falls from left to right if 0 < b < 1.
19

Graphs of Logarithmic Functions

Graph of logarithm with base b

Graph of natural logarithm

y=bx

y=x

y=x
y=logbx
1

1
x

y=ex

y=lnx
x

20

10

Properties Relating the Exponential and

Logarithmic Functions

elnx = x (x > 0)
lnex = x (for any real number x)
Example: Solve 2ex+2 = 5
2ex+2 = 5 ex+2 = 2.5 lnex+2 = ln2.5
x + 2 = ln2.5 x = -2 + ln2.5 = -1.084
Example: Solve 5lnx + 3 = 0
5lnx + 3 = 0 5lnx =-3 lnx = -3/5 = -0.6
elnx = e-0.6 x = e-0.6 = 0.549
21

Exercise 5.2(a)
Use the law of logarithms to simplify the
expression

(a) log

x 1
x2 1

(b) ln xe

x 2

22

11

Answers to Exercise 5.2(a)

23

Exercise 5.2(b)
Use the laws of logarithms to solve the
equation
(a ) log 2 (2 x 5) 4

(b) log 2 x log 2 ( x 2) 3

(c)2e 0.2t 4 6

(d )

50
20
1 4e 0.2t

24

12

Answers to Exercise 5.2(b) (a), (b)

25

Answers to Exercise 5.2(b) (c), (d)

26

13

Exponential Growth
The function Q(t) = Q0ekt, (0 t <) where Q0
and k are positive constants, has the following
properties:
1. Q(0) = Q0
2. Q(t) increases rapidly without bound as t
increases without bound.
Q(t) is initially present in the amount Q0 and its
rate of growth at any time t is directly
proportional to the amount of the quantity
present at t.
This quantity is exhibiting exponential growth
The constant k of proportionality is called the
growth constant
27

Example of Exponential Growth: Growth

of Bacteria
Under ideal laboratory conditions, the number
of bacteria in a culture g
grows in accordance
kt
with the law Q(t)=Q0e , where Q0 denotes the
number of bacteria initially present in the
culture, k is a constant determined by the
strain of bacterial under consideration, and t
is the elapsed time measured in hours.
Suppose 10,000
10 000 bacteria are present initially
in the culture and 60,000 present 2 hours
later. How many bacteria will there be in the
culture at the end of 4 hours?
28

14

Solution to Example of Exponential

Growth: Growth of Bacteria
Q(0)=Q0=10,000, so Q(t)=10,000ekt
60,000 bacteria are p
present 2 hours later
Q(2) = 60,000 60,000 = 10,000e2k e2k = 6
Take the natural log on both sides:
lne2k = ln6 2k = ln6 k = 0.8959
The number of bacteria present at time t is given
by Q(t) = 10,000e0.8959t
The number of bacteria present in the culture at
the end of 4 hours is given by
Q(4) = 10,000e0.8959(4) = 360,029

29

Exponential Decay
In contrast to exponential growth, a quantity
exhibits exponential decay if it decreases at a
rate that is directly proportional to its size. Such
a quantity may be described by the exponential
function Q(t)=Q0e-kt, t[0,)
where the positive constant Q0 measures the
amount present initially (t = 0) and k is some
suitable positive number, called the decay
constant.

30

15

Example of Exponential Decay:

Radioactive Decay (I) - Radioactive
substances decay exponentially
The amount of radium present at any time t
obey the law Q(t)=Q0e-kt, where Q0 is the initial
amount present and k is a suitable positive
constant.
The half-life of a radioactive substance is the
time required for a given amount to be reduced
by one-half. Now, it is known that the half-life of
radium is approximately 1600 years. Suppose
initially there are 200 mg of pure radium. Find
the amount left after t years. What is the
amount left after 800 years?
31

Solution to Example of Exponential

Decay: Radioactive Decay (I)
The initial amount of radium present is 200 mg
Q(0)=Q0 = 200, thus Q(t)=200e-kt
The half-life of radium is 1600 years
Q(1600)=100 100 = 200e-1600k e-1600k=
Taking natural log on both sides
1
1
ln 0.0004332
-1600k(lne) = ln k
1600 2
The amount of radium left after t years is
Q(t)=200e-0.0004332t
The amount of radium left after 800 years is
Q(800)=200e-0.0004332(800) =141.4 mg
32

16

Example of Exponential Decay:

Radioactive Decay (II)
Carbon 14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, has a
half-life of 5770 years. What is its decay constant?
We have Q(t)=Q0e-kt. Since the half life of the
element is 5770 years, half the substance is left at
the end of that period
Q(5770) = Q0e-5770k = Q0 e-5770k =
g natural log
g on both sides
Taking
ln e-5770k = ln -5770k = -0.6931
k=0.0001201
33

Logistic Growth Functions

The logistic (also called the Sshaped) curve is the graph of the
function
A
Q(t )

y
y=A

1 Be kt

where A, B and k are positive

constants. The function Q is called
a logistic growth function.
Observe that Q(t) increases rather
rapidly
idl ffor smallll value
l off tt.
However, the rate of growth Q(t)
decreases quite rapidly as t
increases and Q(t) approaches the
number A as t gets larger and
larger, but Q(t) never exceeds A.

A
1 Be kt

A
1 B

34

17

Example of Logistic Growth Function:

Spread of Flu
The number of soldiers who contracted
influenza after t days during a flu epidemic is
approximated by the exponential model

Q(t )

5000
1 1249e kt

If 40 soldiers contracted flu by day 7, find how

many soldiers
ldi
contracted
t t d th
the flu
fl by
b day
d 15
15.

35

Solution to Example of Logistic

Growth Function: Spread of Flu
5000
40
1 1249e 7 k
5000
40(1 1249e 7 k ) 5000 1 1249e 7 k
125
40
ln 124
124
124
e 7 k
7k ln
k 1249 0.3300
1249
1249
7

Q(7) 40

and

Q (7 )

The number of soldiers who contracted the flu

5000
after
ft t days
d
is
i given
i
b
by Q(t )
1 1249e 0.33t
The number of soldiers who contracted the flu
by day 15 is given by
Q(15)

5000
508
1 1249e 15( 0.33)

36

18

Exercise 5.3(a): Exponential Growth

Given that a quantity Q(t) is described by the
exponential growth function Q(t) = 300e0.02t,
where t is measured in minutes
minutes, answer the
following questions:
(a) What is the growth constant?
(b) What quantity is present initially?
(c) Complete the following table of values:
t

10 20 100 1000

Q
37

Answers to Exercise 5.3(a)

38

19

Exercise 5.3(b): Length of fish

The length (in cm) of a typical Pacific
h lib t t year old
halibut
ld iis approximately
i t l
f(t)=200(1 - 0.956e-0.18t)
What is the length of a typical 6 year old
Pacific halibut?

39

Answers to Exercise 5.3(b)

40

20

Exercise 5.3(c): Demographics

The number of citizens aged 45-64 is projected
197.9
to be P(t )
(0 t 20)
1 3.274
2 4e 0.0361t
Where P(t) is measured in millions and t is
measured in years, with t = 0 corresponding to
the beginning of 1990. People belonging to
this age group are the targets of insurance
companies
i th
thatt wantt to
t sellll them
th
annuities.
iti
What is the projected population of citizens
aged 45-64 in 2010?
41

Answers to Exercise 5.3(c)

42

21