Module 2

Exponential Functions

What this module is about

This module is about the roots of exponential equations and zeros of
exponential functions. As you go over this material, you will develop the skills in
finding the roots of exponential equations and the zeros of the exponential
functions using the property of equality for exponential equation and the laws of
exponents.

What you are expected to learn

The module is designed for you to use the laws on exponents to find the
roots of exponential equations and the zeros of exponential functions

How much do you know

1. If 3x = 34, what is x?
2. Find x if 2x – 1 = 4.
3. Simplify the expression (4x5)2.
−2
 4x −4 
4. Express  −9 
without negative exponent.
 −2x 
5. Solve for x in the equation 22(5x + 1) = 500
2
6. What are the values of x in 3x = 92x −1 ?
7. Determine the zeros of the exponential function F(x) = 2x.
8. Find the zeros of h(x) = 2x - 3.
2x +1
9. Where will the graph of y = 1 +  
1
cross the x-axis?
2
10. What value of x will make the function value of y = 32x – 1 equal to 0?
 What you will do
Lesson 1

The Property of Equality for Exponential Equation

An exponential equation in one variable is an equation where the

exponent is the variable.

In solving exponential equations, the Property of Equality for Exponential

Equation is used. It is stated as

“If a, b, and c are real numbers and a ≠ 0, then, ab = ac if and only if b = c.”

Examples: Solve for the value of the variable that would make the equation
true.

1. 3x = 35 Since the bases are equal,

x=5 the exponents must be equal too.

Since the x = 5, then 35 = 35

2. 42y = 48 Since the bases are equal,

2y = 8 the exponents must be equal too.
y=4

Since y = 4, then 42y = 48 42(4) = 48 48 = 48

3. 72 = 7z – 1 The bases are equal,

2=z–1 the exponents must be equal too.
z=3

Since z = 3, then 72 = 7z – 1 72 = 73 – 1 72 = 72

Try this out

Find the value of the variable that would make each equation true.

Set A
1. 3x = 39
2. 23y = 212
3. 52z = 53

2
 4. 8a – 2 = 87
5. 12m + 3 = 120
6. 44b + 1 = 45
7. 75x + 2 = 74x – 1
8. 92(x – 1) = 93x + 1
9. 64(2x – 1) = 63(x – 1)
2 + 2x
10. π x = π −1

Set B
1. 6x = 611
2. 95y = 915
3. 126z = 123
4. 10a – 4 = 10-9
5. 72b + 2 = 7b – 3
6. 23n – 7 = 2n + 5
7. 34(x + 2) = 35x – 2
8. 8– (3 – 2x) = 83(-4 + x)
2
−x
9. 4 x = 412
2 − 4x
10. 54x =5

Set C
1. 42x = 49
2. 38y = 312
3. 611z + 2 = 63z – 10
4. 24y + (2 – y) = 23 – 5y

5. 8 x
= 85
x +3
6. 5 = 52
2
7. 7 x = 7 2x −1
2
8. 9 x = 9 x + 6
2 −x
9. π 2x =π3

3
 2x 2 + 5x
( 2) ( 2)
3
10. =

Lesson 2

Review of the Laws of Exponents

Let us review the Laws of Exponents for easy reference.

For any real numbers a and b, and any positive real numbers m and n,

a. aman = am + n
b. (am)n = amn
c. (ab)n = anbn
am
d. n
= a m−n , a ≠ 0
a
n
an
e.   = n , b ≠ 0
a
b b
f. a0 = 1

Examples:

Simplify each expression. Express answers with positive exponents:

1. (x3)(x6)
(x3)(x6) = x3 + 6
= x9

2. (x -3)2
(x -3)2 = x(-3)(2)
= x-6
1
=
x6

3. (2x -5)-3
(2x -5)-3 = 2-3x15

4
 x15
=
23
x15
=
8

16x 5
4.
12x 7
16x 5 16 x 5
= ⋅
12x 7 12 x 7
4
= ⋅ x 5− 7 Simplify
3
4
= ⋅ x −2
3
4 1
= ⋅ 2
3 x
4
=
3x 2
2
 1
3
 64 x 3 
5. 
− 
2
125 x 3 

2 2
 1
 3   2 1 3
 64 x  =  64  ·  x 
3 3 3

 − 
2 125   −2 
 
125 x 3   x 3 

2
 64 
2
 13 + 23  3 Express rational exponents
= 3  · x  in radical form and simplify.
 125   

4
2
 33
=   · x3 
5  

 16 
[ ]
2
=   · x1 3
 25 

5
 2

16 x 3
=
25

Try this out

Simplify each expression. Express answers with positive exponents:

Set A
1. (x6)(x7)
2. (3x4)(-6x7)
3. (x5)4
4. (3x3)2
8x 9
5.
2x 5
−15x −2
6.
25x 5
21x 6
7.
−14x −4

8.
( −2x ) 5 2

( −4x ) 2 3

−2
 8x 9 
9.  5 
 2x 
−1
(
 −2x 2 3 
10.   )
( )
 3x −3 −2 
 

Set B
1. (5x-4)(-x2)
2. (-2x-3)(-4x-2)
3. (3x-4)3
4. (-5x-4)2
12x 8
5.
20x 3

6
 −33x −6
6.
24x 2
48x 9
7.
−80x −13

8.
( −2x ) −4 2

(3x ) 2 −3

−2
 6x 5 
9.  − 9 
 8x 
−2
(
 4x 2 −1 
10.   )
(
 −2x −2 −3 
  )
Set C
−27x 6
1.
21x 4
(2x 2 )3
2.
8x 9
(3x −2 ) 4
3.
(9x 3 ) −2

(8x 6 ) 2
4.
(2x 3 ) 4
2
 12  3
8x 
5. 
 27x 
 
1
 64x −6  2
6.  2 
 36x 
−2
 32x 9 
7. −  −13 
 −72x 
2
(
 2x 3 −3 
8.   )
(
 −3x 2 2 
  )

7
 −2
 2x −2 
9.  − 4  
 8x  
−3
(
 −2x 2 ) 
−2

10.  
(
 − 2x −2
) 
−3

 

Lesson 3

Finding the Roots of Exponential Equation

The Property of Equality for Exponential Equation which is also known as

Equating-Exponents Property implies that in an exponential equation, if the
bases are equal, the exponents must also be equal.

Examples:

Solve each exponential equation.

1. 24x + 2 = 8x – 2

Use laws of exponents to make the bases equal. Then apply the Equating
Exponents Property.

24x + 2 = 8x – 2
24x + 2 = 23(x – 2)
4x + 2 = 3(x – 2)
4x + 2 = 3x – 6
x = -8

1
2. 9-x =
27

Use laws of exponents to make the bases equal. Then apply the Equating
Exponents Property.

1
9-x =
27
32(-x) = 27-1

8
 3-2x = (33)-1
3-2x = 3-3
-2x = -3
−3
x=
−2
3
x=
2

2 −5x 1
3. 2x =
16

Use laws of exponents to make the bases equal. Then apply the Equating
Exponents Property.

2 −5x 1
2x =
16
2 −5x
2x = 16−1

( )
2 −5x −1
2x = 24
2 −5x
2x = 2−4
x2 – 5x = -4
x2 – 5x + 4 = 0
(x – 1)(x – 4) = 0
x = 1 or x = 4

Try this out

Solve for x in each exponential equation.

Set A
1. 2x = 128
2. 5x = 125
1
3. 2x =
2
4. 92x = 27
5. 2x – 1 = 32
6. 1000x = 1002x – 5

9
 7. 43x + 1 = 8x – 1
8. 93x = 27x – 2
9. 8x – 1 = 163x
10. 93x + 1 = 273x + 1

Set B
1. 9x = 27
2. 4x = 128
1
3. 4x =
2
4. 3x + 2 = 27
5. 25x + 1 = 125x
6. 4x = 0.0625
1
7. 3– x =
243
1
8. 8x + 3 =
16
−x
9.  
1
= 27 2x +1
 3
3− 2x
10.  
1
= 8− x
4

Set C
x
1.   = 4
1
2
1
2. 4x =
8
3. 5x + 3 = 25
4. 9x = 27x + 1
5. 73x + 2 = 49x
6. 1213x = 11x – 1
x +3
7. 3 3
= 815+ x
x2 + x
8.  
16
=1
 25 

10
 (5 )
2
x −3
9. = 0.04
1
x
 1 3 1
10.   =
8 2

Lesson 4

Determining the Zeros of Exponential Functions

As in other function, the zero of an exponential function refers to the value

of the independent variable x that makes the function 0. Graphically, it is the
abscissa of the point of intersection of the graph of the exponential function and
the x-axis.

To find the zero of an exponential function f(x), equate f(x) to 0 and solve
for x.

Examples:

Determine the zero of the given exponential function.

1. f(x) = 2x

To find the zero of the function, equate it to 0 and solve for x.

f(x) = 2x = 0
2x = 0

The resulting equation suggests that f(x) has no zero since no real
value of x will make 2x = 0 a true statement.

2. g(x) = 34x – 8 – 1

To find the zero of the function, equate it to 0 and solve for x.

g(x) = 34x – 8 – 1 = 0
34x – 8 – 1 = 0
34x – 8 = 1
34x – 8 = 30
4x – 8 = 0
4x = 8

11
 x=2

The zero of g(x) is 2.

2x + 3
3. h(x) =  
1
+9
 3

To find the zero of the function, equate it to 0 and solve for x.

2x + 3
h(x) =  
1
−9 = 0
 3
2x + 3
1 −9 = 0
 
 3
2x + 3
1 =9
 
 3
2x + 3
1 = 32
 
 3

(3 )
−1 2x + 3
= 32

( 3)
−2x −3
= 32

-2x – 3 = 2
-2x = 5
5
x= −
2

5
The zero of h(x) is − .
2

x −1
– 
2x + 3 1 
4. y = 2 
 512 

To find the zero of the function, equate it to 0 and solve for x.

x −1
– 
2x + 3 1 
y=2  =0
 512 
x −1
22x + 3 – 
1 
 =0
 512 

12
 x −1
22x + 3 = 
1 

 512 

22x + 3 = ( 512 ) −1 x −1

−1 x −1
22x + 3 =  29

( ) 


22x + 3 = (2 )−9 x −1

( 2)
−9x + 9
22x + 3 =

2x + 3 = -9x + 9
11x = 6
6
x=
11

6
The zero of y is .
11

Try this out

Determine the zeros of the given polynomial function.

Set A
1. f(x) = 3x
2. g(x) = 3x + 2 - 27
3. h(x) = 4x – 1 – 64
4. p(x) = (7-x)2 – 343
5. F(x) = (0.2)x – 2 – 54x
6. G(x)= 82x – 22x + 1
x −3
7. H(x) =  
1
− 81− x
2
3
8. P(x) = 4x(x – 5) –  
1
16
 

( )
x −3
9. y = 27 − 33x −1

13
 4x + 3
10. y =  
2 16
−
3 81

Set B
1. f(x) = 22x – 1
2. g(x) = 165 + x – 4
3. h(x) = 103x – (0.001)x + 3
1
4. p(x) = 2x(x – 3) –
16
3x − 4
5. F(x) =  
1
− 23− 2x
64
 

6. G(x) = 343 – 492x – 1

x −2

( ) −  
3x −1 1
7. H(x) = 125
5
x −3
8. P(x) =  
2 32
−
3 243
2x +1
9. y =  
3 27
−
5 125
3x −1 x
10. y =   −  
4 49
7
  16
 

Set C
1. f(x) = 92x + 2 – 27
x −3
2. g(x) = 1253x + 7 –  
1
5
3. h(x) = 25x + 1 – 82x – 3
4. p(x) = 275x – 6 – 97x + 3
x
1
5. F(x) = 814 −
27
6. G(x) = (9x)(3x) – 243
x +5
7. H(x) =  
3 729
−
2 64

14
 2x −3
8. P(x) =  
4 27
−
3 64
3x +1
9. y =  
2 625
−
5
  16
x −3
3 4
10. y =   −
2 9

Let’s summarize
1. An exponential equation is an equation where the variable is the
exponent.

2. In solving exponential equations, the Property of Equality for Exponential

Equation is used. Stated as follows: “If a, b, and c are real numbers and
a ≠ 0, then, ab = ac if and only if b = c.”

3. For any real numbers a and b, and any positive real numbers m and n,

a. aman = am + n
b. (am)n = amn
c. (ab)n = anbn
am
d. n
= a m−n , a ≠ 0
a
n
an
e.   = n , b ≠ 0
a
b b
f. a0 = 1

4. The Property of Equality for Exponential Equation which is also known as

Equating-Exponents Property implies that in an exponential equation, if
the bases are equal, the exponents must also be equal.

5. The zero of an exponential function refers to the value of the independent

variable x that makes the function 0.

6. Graphically, the zero of an exponential function is the abscissa of the point

of intersection of the graph of the exponential function and the x-axis.

15
7. To find the zero of an exponential function f(x), equate f(x) to 0 and solve
for x.

What have you learned

1. If 22x + 1 = 25, what is x?
2. Find x if 4x + 1 = 2.
3. Simplify the expression (5x4)3.
−2
 9x −3 
4. Express  7 
without negative exponent.
 −36x 
5. Solve for x in the equation 9(42x + 1) = 36x
2
6. What are the values of x in 4 x = 82x −1 ?
7. Determine the zeros of the exponential function F(x) = 5x – 2.
8. Find all the zeros of f(x) = 7x – 3 – 49.
x 2x +1
9. Where will the graph of g(x) =   –  
1 1
cross the x-axis?
4
  2
−2x
10. What value of x will make h(x) = 322x –  
1
equal to 0?
 16 

16
 Answer Key
How much do you know

1. 4
2. 3
3. 16x10
4
4.
x10
5. 2
6. 2 ± 2
7. no zero
8. 5
3
9. 0 and
2
10. 0

Try this out

Lesson 1

Set A
1. 9
2. 4
3
3.
5
4. 9
5. -3
6. 1
7. -3
8. -3
1
9.
5
10. -1

17
Set B
1. 11
2. 3
1
3.
2
4. -5
5. -5
6. 6
7. 10
8. 9
9. 4 and -3
2± 2
10.
2

Set C
9
1.
2
3
2.
2
3
3. -
2
1
4.
8
5. 25
6. 1
7. 1
8. 3 and -2
3
9. and -1
2
1
10. and -3
2

18
Lesson 2

Set A
1. x13
2. -18x11
3. x20
4. 9x6
5. 4x4
3
6. −
5x7
3x10
7. −
2
x4
8. −
4
1
9.
16 x8
1
10. −
72

Set B
5
1. −
x2
8
2.
x
27
3.
x12
25
4.
x8
3x5
5.
5
11
6. −
8 x8
3x 22
7. −
5

19
 108
8.
x2
16 x8
9.
9
x16
10.
4

Set C
9x2
1. −
7
1
2.
x3
6561
3.
x2
4. 4
1
4 3
5. x
9
4
6.
3x 4
81
7. -
16 x 31
1
8.
5184 x 26
1
9.
4 x12
x 20
10. -
8

20
Lesson 3

Set A
1. 7
2. 3
3. -1
3
4.
4
5. 6
6. 10
1
7. -
5
8. -2
1
9. -
3
1
10. -
3

Set B
3
1.
2
7
2.
2
1
3. -
2
4. 1
5. 2
6. -2
7. 5
13
8. -
3
3
9. -
5

21
 6
10.
7

Set C
1. -2
3
2. -
2
3. -1
4. -3
5. -2
1
6. -
5
57
7. -
11
8. 0 and -1
9. 3
10. -1

Lesson 4

Set A
1. No rational zero
2. 1
3. 4
3
4. -
2
2
5.
5
1
6.
4
7. 0
8. 2 and 3
7
9. -
3

22
 1
10.
4

Set B
1. No rational zero
9
2. -
2
3
3. -
2
3±i 7
4.
2
27
5. -
16
7
6.
8
7
7.
11
8. 8
9. 1
1
10.
5

Set C
1
1. -
4
9
2. -
5
3. 10
4. 24
5. -3
5
6.
3
7. 1
8. 0

23
 5
9. -
3
10. 1

How much have you learned

1. 2
1
2. -
2
3. 125x12
4. 16x20
5. -1
3± 3
6.
2
7. none
8. 5
9. It will not cross the x-axis
10. 0

24