Exponential growth is modeled by increasing functions of the form where the growth factor, is a number greater than 1.
Exponential Growth.
describes
exponential growth, where
is the
initial value of the function and
is the
growth factor.
Growth by a Constant Percent.
describes exponential growth at a constant percent rate of growth,
The
initial value of the function is
and
is the
growth factor.
Compound Interest.
If a
principal of
dollars is invested in an account that pays an interest rate
compounded annually, the
balance after
years is given by
If then is a decreasing function. In this case is said to describe exponential decay.
A percent increase of (in decimal form) corresponds to a growth factor of A percent decrease of corresponds to a decay factor of
Exponential Growth and Decay.
models exponential growth and decay.
If then is increasing, and where represents percent increase.
If then is decreasing, and where represents percent decrease.
Exponential Function.
An
exponential function has the form
Exponential Notation for Radicals.
The growth factor of an exponential function is analogous to the slope of a linear function: Each measures how quickly the function is increasing (or decreasing).
Suppose is a linear function and is an exponential function. For each unit that increases, units are added to the value of whereas the value of is multiplied by
We do not allow the base of an exponential function to be negative, because if then is not a real number for some values of
Properties of Exponential Functions, .
-
If the function is increasing and concave up;
if the function is decreasing and concave up.
The -intercept is There is no -intercept.
The negative -axis is a horizontal asymptote for exponential functions with For exponential functions with the positive -axis is an asymptote.
Exponential functions are not the same as the power functions we studied earlier. Although both involve expressions with exponents, it is the location of the variable that makes the difference.
Power Functions vs Exponential Functions.
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variable base and constant exponent |
constant base and variable exponent |
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Many exponential equations can be solved by writing both sides of the equation as powers with the same base. If two equivalent powers have the same base, then their exponents must be equal also (as long as the base is not 0 or ).
Definition of Logarithm.
For
the
base logarithm of , written
is the exponent to which
must be raised in order to yield
Logarithms and Exponents: Conversion Equations.
We use logarithms to solve exponential equations, just as we use square roots to solve quadratic equations. The operation of taking a base logarithm is the inverse of raising the base to a power, just as extracting square roots is the inverse of squaring a number.
Steps for Solving Base 10 Exponential Equations.
Isolate the power on one side of the equation.
Rewrite the equation in logarithmic form.
Use a calculator, if necessary, to evaluate the logarithm.
Solve for the variable.
Properties of Logarithms.
Steps for Solving Exponential Equations.
Isolate the power on one side of the equation.
Take the base 10 logarithm of both sides of the equation.
Apply the third property of logarithms to simplify.
Use a calculator, if necessary, to evaluate the logarithm.
Solve for the variable.