Exponents and Logarithms Unit Portfolio

Jasmine Gillie

Part 1: Unit Summary

Beautiful examples (Evidence) Amazing Narratives

Applying and using exponential growth and decay

I made sense of the exponential form y = ab x by breaking
it up into terms that made sense to me and defining each
variable of the equation.
y = ab x Y = The function or f(x)
A = Initial amount
B = 1 +/- r
X = Independent units
Looking closer at the value of b in the equation, y = ab x ,
I made sense of it by looking at it as two different
equations and using substitution. So if y = ab x and
b = 1 + / r) then I would substitute b with 1 + / r .
y = a(1 + / r) x R = Rate of change
Where 1 is added when the initial
amount is growing
And r is subtracted by 1 when the initial
amount is decaying

Compounding interest
I made sense of compounding, continuous compounding,
and simple interest by breaking the equations down and
defining the variables. This way I could easily plug in
numbers and find the interests in different problems.
Simple interest A = Amount in account
formula P = Principal (amount initially
A = P + Prt deposited)
R = Rate written as a decimal
Compounding (annually)
interest formula E = Base
A = P (1 + nr ) nt T = Time the investment is made
for in years
Compounding N = Number of times the interest
continuously is compounded
formula
 A = P e rt Annually N=1

For continuously Semi-annually N = 2

compounding
Quarterly N=4
interest
specifically, I saw Monthly N = 12
its difference from
the other Weekly N = 52
equations because Daily N = 365
its rate was a part
of an exponent -
making the rate
constant and
endless.
Eulers number (e) is irrational, so you can calculate it,
but you cant find the exact answer. By using (1 + 1n) n
and replacing the value of n multiple times, where each
trial increases the value, we can see a pattern.
(1 + 11) 1 e = 2.71828182845904523...
= 2.00000000
(1 + 10 1 ) 10 As the value of n increases,
= 2.59374246 the equations accuracy of e
(1 + 1001 ) 100 increases as well.
= 2.704813829
1 ) 1,000
(1 + 1,000
= 2.716923932
1 ) 10,000
(1 + 10,000
= 2.718145927
1 ) 100,000
(1 + 100,000
= 2.718268237
1
(1 + 1,000,000 ) 1,000,000
= 2.718280469
1
(1 + 10,000,000 ) 10,000,000 =
2.718281693
Solving for exponents in equations
You can use logs to solve for exponents by using the
simple idea that two given equations, a = bx and logba = x
use the same variables. So by reorienting the placement of
the numbers, you could define the exponent.
For example:
216 = 6x
So x = log6216 and log6216 = 3 , meaning x = 3.
Logarithms
I made sense of converting between logarithmic forms
and exponential forms by breaking them down into a few
different rules through the operation of doing the same
thing on one side to another. These rules being,

Addition Rule
(x y) = am an = am+n
loga(x y) = loga(am+n)
loga(x y) = m + n
Meaning,
loga(x y) = logax + logay

Subtraction Rule
x am mn
y = an = a
loga yx = loga(amn)
loga yx = m n
Meaning,
loga yx = logax logay

Power Rule
 xn = (am)n = amn
loga(x n) = loga(amn)
loga(x n) = m n
Meaning,
loga(x n) = n logax

Part 2: Exponents and Logs Unit Reflection

What did you grapple with during this unit?
My most significant struggle throughout this unit was understanding how to calculate the
values of logs without the base of 10 and knowing the circumstances that deemed certain
rules to be relevant.
What habits of a mathematician did you use?
Two Habits of a Mathematician I used were Collaborate and Listen and Look for
Patterns. I used Collaborate and Listen because I wasnt afraid to ask my peers when I
didnt understand something and I also wasnt afraid to question why they took certain steps.
Additionally, after missing a day of notes I was able to talk with my peers and collect a
deeper understanding of the work by practicing and analyzing problems on my own.
Having finished the portfolio how prepared do you feel for Fridays test? How can you be more
prepared?
Having finished the portfolio, I feel a little more prepared as it refreshed my memory on
some of the older content. However, there are definitely some areas Im worried about
including having equations/conversions memorized and understanding logs with bases other
than 10.
THE END