Objectives

To use the properties of

exponents to:
 Simplify exponential
expressions.
 Solve exponential equations.
 Exponential Functions
A polynomial function has the basic form: f (x) = x3

An exponential function has the basic form: f (x) = 3x

An exponential function has the variable in the exponent,

not in the base.

General Form of an Exponential Function:

f (x) = Nx, N > 0
 Properties of Exponents
X
A A  A
X Y X Y A X Y
Y
 A
A
A 
X Y
 A XY X
A  X
1
A
 AB   A B
X X X
1
X
 A X

X
A
 A
X
A
   X
 A
X
AY A 
X
B
Y X Y
B
 Properties of Exponents
Simplify: 2  2  2  32
2 3 5

6 1 1 4
2 2  2  4 
2

2 16

2 
3 2
 26  64
 Properties of Exponents
3 3
2 2 33 27
Simplify:    3  3 
3 3 2 8

7
3 1 1
9
3  2 
2

3 3 9

 2 8    2  8
1
 16 2  16  4
1 1 2 1
2 2
 Exponential Equations
( x 1) 1
Solve: 5  125
x
Solve: 7 7 2
5x  53 x  1   12
x3 x  12
 Exponential Equations
Solve: 8  2
x
Solve: 8  4
x

2 
3 x
2
1
2 
3 x
2 2

2 2
3x 1
2 2
3x 2

3x  1 3x  2

x  13 x  23
 Exponential Equations
Solve:  
1 x
3  27 Solve: x 3  27
1

3   
3
1 x
 27  273
1
x 3

x
3 3 3 x  19,683

x  3 Not considered an
exponential equation,
because the variable

x  3
is now in the base.
 Exponential Equations
x 4 8
3
Solve:

 
Not considered an 4

8 3
3 3 4
exponential equation,
because the variable
x 4

 8
is in the base.
4
x 3

x   2
4

x  16
 Exponential Functions
General Form of an Exponential Function:
f (x) = Nx, N > 0

g(x) = 2x g(3) = 8
g(2) = 4
x
g(1) = 2
g(0) = 1
g(–1) = 21  12
g(–2) = 22  2  14
1
2x 2
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
x g  x

2 4

1 2
0 1
1
–1 2

1
–2 4
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
x h x

2 9

1 3
0 1
1
–1 3

1
–2 9
Exponential Functions
h(x) = 3x
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) Exponential functions with
positive bases greater than
1 have graphs that are
increasing.

The function never crosses

the x-axis because there is
nothing we can plug in for x
that will yield a zero
answer.
h(x) = 3x (red)

The x-axis is a left

horizontal asymptote.
Exponential Functions
g(x) = 2x (blue) A smaller base means the
graph rises more
gradually.

A larger base means the

graph rises more quickly.

Exponential functions will

h(x) = 3x (red) not have negative bases.
Let’s examine exponential functions. They are
different than any of the other types of functions we’ve
studied because the independent variable is in the
exponent.

Let’s look at the graph of

this function by plotting

f x   2
x 2x
x some points.8
3 8 7
6
2 4 5
BASE 4
1 2 3
2
0 1 1
Recall what a
-1 1/2 negative exponent -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-2 1/4 means:
-2
-3
-3 1/8 -4
f  1  2 1 
1 -5
-6
2 -7
 Compare the graphs 2x, 3x , and 4x
f x   4 x
Characteristics about the Graph of an
Exponential Function where a >
1
f x   a
x

1. Domain is all real numbers f x   3x

f x   2 x
2. Range is positive real numbers

3. There are no x intercepts because there is no

x value that you can put in the function to make it
=0 Can
What
What
What
Are you
is
isthe
these
is the
see
the range
x
ydomain
the
intercept
of of
exponential an
intercept
exponential
of
horizontal
anthese
of exponential
functions
these exponential
asymptote
function?or
exponential
increasing
functions?
for
function?
these functions?
functions?
decreasing?
4. The y intercept is always (0,1) because a 0 = 1

5. The graph is always increasing

6. The x-axis (where y = 0) is a horizontal
asymptote for x  - 
 The Number e

A base often associated with exponential functions is:

e  2.71828169
 The Number e
Euler’s number
Leonhard Euler
Swiss mathematician
and physicist
The Exponential Function
f (x) = ex
Exponential Functions
j  x   2 
1 x

x j  x

2
1
4

1
1 2

0 1
–1 2

–2 4
 Exponential Functions
j  x   2 
1 x

Exponential functions with positive bases less

than 1 have graphs that are decreasing.
 Why study exponential functions?
Exponential functions are used in our real world
to measure growth, interest, and decay.

Growth obeys exponential functions.

Ex: rumors, human population, bacteria,
computer technology, nuclear chain reactions,
compound interest

Decay obeys exponential functions.

Ex: Carbon-14 dating, half-life, Newton’s Law of
Cooling