Activity 5 – Exponential and

Logarithmic Functions
Problem 1:
a) Let = 4 and = log . Fill in the charts below with the missing
function values. (5 points)
=4 = log
1
16
14
-2
1
-1
4
0
16
= 4 and = log on the axes
1

b) Plot points and sketch the graphs of

below.
c) Fill in the following information about the graphs of Let

=4

and
= log .

=4 = log

Is the function one-to-one? _________ Is the function one-to-one? _________

(YES or NO) (YES or NO)
State the domain:_________________ State the domain:_________________

State the range:_________________ State the range:_________________

y-intercept is at y = _______________ x-intercept is at x = _______________

Horizontal asymptote at y = ________ Vertical asymptote at y = __________

Contains the point (1, _______) Contains the point (_______, 1)

Notice that the graphs are mirror images across the line y = x (the dashed line).
This is because the functions = 4 and = log are inverses of each other.
Since the functions are inverses, we have the following cancellation
and log

equations:
and
log = = (if > 0 )
Below are the arithmetic properties of logarithms and the corresponding
properties of exponents.

Problem 2:

Using the properties above, expand the following logarithmic expressions. There
should be no products, quotients, or powers inside a logarithm. Evaluate
logarithms of numbers.
Example of expanding the logarithmic expression using the properties above:
8
log = log 8 + log − log = 3 + 3 log − log

a)

b)

c)
Rewrite each of the following as a single logarithm. Evaluate when possible.

Example:

d)

e)