Exponential functions

Exponential functions
These are functions that have x as the exponent
=

Exponential functions always pass through (0, 1). This is because
anything to the power 0 is 1. You can use this point when drawing
transformations of an exponential function.
Properties of the function () =

The domain of () =

is the set of all real numbers

The range is the set of all positive real numbers
The curve does not intercept the -axis
The graph approaches closer and closer to the -axis as the value of
decreases
The -intercept is 1
The graph of passes through the points (1,
1

) , (0,1) and (1, )

The graph increases continually
Investigation
When you invest money it earns interest. We use the formula
= 1 +

to calculate interest, where A is the final amount,
C is the capital, r is the interest rate expressed as a decimal, n is the
number of compoundings in a year and t is the total number of
years.
Lets take $1. It is invested at an interest rate of 100% for 1 year.

a) How much will you have it this is compounded yearly?
b) How much will you have if this is compounded quarterly?
Compounding Calculation Final amount (write down all
the figures n your calculator)
Yearly
1 +
1
1
1

2
Half-Yearly
1 +
1
2
2

Quarterly
1 +
1
4
4

2.4140625
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
Hourly
Every minute
Every second
Compounding Calculation Final amount (write down all
the figures n your calculator)
Yearly
1 +
1
1
1

2
Half-Yearly
1 +
1
2
2

2.25
Quarterly
1 +
1
4
4

2.4140625
Monthly 2.61303529
Weekly 2.692596954
Daily 2.714567482
Hourly 2.718125405
Every minute 2.718279194
Every second 2.718283459
We are converging on the value of
= 2.71828182845904523536
is an irrational number. There is no obvious pattern to
this chain of numbers
Calculation Result
1 1
1 +
1
1

2
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1

1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1

1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1

1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1
+
1
5 4 3 2 1

1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1
+
1
5 4 3 2 1
+
1
6 5 4 3 2 1

What is happening?
Calculation Result
1 1
1 +
1
1

2
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1

2.5
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1

2.66666666666667
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1

2.70833333333333
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1
+
1
5 4 3 2 1

2.716666667
1 +
1
1
+
1
2 1
+
1
3 2 1
+
1
4 3 2 1
+
1
5 4 3 2 1
+
1
6 5 4 3 2 1

2.718055556
What is happening?
Transformations
Exponential functions follow the same rules of transformations as other
functions
() translates () through units vertically up or down
( ) translates () through units horizontally to the left or right
() reflects () in the -axis
() reflects () in the -axis
() stretches () vertically with scale factor
() stretches () horizontally with scale factor
1

Generally.
If the factor is outside the bracket ie: (), (), () + then
the coordinate will be affected.

If the factor is inside the bracket ie: (), (), ( +) then the
coordinate will be affected


Exponential functions
These are functions that have x as the exponent
=

Exponential functions always pass through (0, 1). This is because
anything to the power 0 is 1.
THE exponential
function is =

The natural logarithm function is
= ln . It is the inverse of
the exponential function.
The graph of the inverse is a
reflection of the graph of the
function in the line =