General Mathematics Self-Learning Module by RTdlC

Exponential Functions, Exponential Equations, and Exponential Inequalities

INTRODUCTION

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

A. solve exponential equations; and
B. solve exponential inequalities.

Recall: Rules and theorems on exponents

Let 𝑏 the base and 𝑏 ≠ 0 and let 𝑚 and 𝑛 be the exponents. Then
I. 𝑏0 = 1 Example: 90 = 1
1 𝑛 1 −𝑛 1 2 1 −3
II. 𝑏 −𝑛 = (𝑏) or (𝑏) = 𝑏𝑛 Example: 4−2 = (4) (2) = 23
III. 𝑏𝑚 ∙ 𝑏𝑛 = 𝑏𝑚+𝑛 Example: 34 ∙ 32 = 36
𝑏𝑚 59
IV. = 𝑏𝑚−𝑛 Example: = 57
𝑏𝑛 52
V. (𝑏𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑏𝑚∙𝑛 Example: (72 )5 = 710

TASK 1: Study the given table of power. Try to be familiar with it and memorize.

exponent
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
base
2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 1024
3 9 27 81 243 729 2187
4 16 64 256 1024
5 25 125 625 3125
6 36 216 1296
7 49 343 2401 Sa table of power na ito, makikita ang base sa leftmost row at ang
8 64 512 4096 exponent naman sa uppermost column. Ang power ay matatagpuan sa
9 81 729 6561 intersection ng base at power.
10 100 1000
Example: Ang value o power ng 73 ay makikita sa intersection ng base na
11 121 1331 7 at exponent na 3. Kaya 73 = 343.
12 144 1728
13 169 2197 Example: Ang value o power ng 36 ay makikita sa intersection ng base na
14 196 2744 3 at exponent na 6. Kaya 36 = 729.
15 225 3375
16 256 4096 Example: Paano isusulat ang 216 na iba ang base. Hanapin lang sa table
17 289 4913 ang 216 at tingnan ang katapat na base at exponent. Ang
18 324 5832 katapat na base ay 6 at exponent ay 3. Kaya 216 = 63.
19 361 6859

TASK 2: Using the table of power, find the value of the given exponential terms. Check your answer on page 3 of
this module.
1. 54 4. 29
2. 14 2
5. 133
3. 9 3

TASK 3: Using the table of power, write the given powers in base-exponent form 𝑏𝑛 . Check your answer on page
3 of this module.
Example: 1331 = 113
1. 243 4. 1296
2. 4096 5. 32
3. 1024

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DEVELOPMENT

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS

One-to-One Property of Exponential Functions

If 𝑚 ≠ 𝑛, then 𝑏𝑚 ≠ 𝑏𝑛 . Conversely, if 𝑏𝑚 = 𝑏𝑛 , then 𝑚 = 𝑛.
✓ Kung equal ang value ng dalawang term na magkatulad ang base, equal din ang kanilang exponent.
In solving exponential equation, each sides of the equation must have the same base. Equate the exponents and
solve.

Example: Solve the equation 2𝑥−3 = 32

Solution: 2𝑥−3 = 32
2𝑥−3 = 25 → Both sides of the equation can be written with base 2. (32 → 25 )
𝑥−3 =5 → Equate the exponents.
𝑥 =5+3 → Transpose −3 to the right side or add 3 to both sides.
𝒙=𝟖 → Simplify.
You may verify if the answer is correct by substituting 𝑥 = 8 to the equation 2𝑥−3 = 32.

Example: Solve the equation 27𝑥+3 = 9𝑥−1

Solution: 27𝑥+3 = 9𝑥−1
(33 )𝑥+3 = (32 )𝑥−1 → Both sides of the equation can be written with base 3. (27 → 33 𝑎𝑛𝑑 9 → 32 )
(3)(𝑥 + 3) = (2)(𝑥 − 1) → Equate the exponents.
3𝑥 + 9 = 2𝑥 − 2 → Simplify.
3𝑥 − 2𝑥 = −2 − 9 → Transpose 9 to the right side and 2𝑥 to the left side or subtract 9 and 2𝑥 to both sides.
𝒙 = −𝟏𝟏 → Simplify.
You may verify if the answer is correct by substituting 𝑥 = −11 to the equation 27𝑥+3 = 9𝑥−1 .

1 3𝑥−4
Example: Solve the equation (5) = (125)𝑥+1
1 3𝑥−4
Solution: (5) = (125)𝑥+1
1
(5−1 )3𝑥−4 = (53 )𝑥+1 → Both sides of the equation can be written with base 5. ( → 5−1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 125 → 53 )
5
(−1)(3𝑥 − 4) = (3)(𝑥 + 1) → Equate the exponents.
−3𝑥 + 4 = 3𝑥 + 3 → Simplify.
−3𝑥 − 3𝑥 = 3 − 4 → Transpose 4 to the right side and 3𝑥 to the left side or subtract 4 and 3𝑥 to both sides.
−6𝑥 = −1 → Simplify.
−6𝑥 −1
= → Divide both sides of the equation by −6.
−6 −6
𝟏
𝒙= → Simplify.
𝟔
1 1 3𝑥−4
You may verify if the answer is correct by substituting 𝑥 = 6 to the equation (5) = (125)𝑥+1 .

TASK 4: Solve the given exponential equations. Check your answer on page 3 of this module.
1 𝑥−7
1. 7𝑥+2 = 343 2. 81𝑥−2 = (3) 3. 193−𝑥 = 361𝑥+1

SOLVING EXPONENTIAL INEQUALITIES

Property of Exponential Inequalities

If 𝑏 > 1, then the exponential function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑥 is increasing for all 𝑥. This means that 𝑏𝑚 < 𝑏𝑛 if 𝑚 < 𝑛 or
𝑏𝑚 > 𝑏𝑛 if 𝑚 > 𝑛. (Kapag ang base ay mas mataas sa one, hindi binabago ang inequality)

If 0 < 𝑏 < 1, then the exponential function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑥 is decreasing for all 𝑥. This means that 𝑏𝑚 < 𝑏𝑛 if 𝑚 > 𝑛 or
𝑏𝑚 > 𝑏𝑛 if 𝑚 < 𝑛. (Kapag ang base ay mas mababa sa one, binabaliktad ang inequality)

Example: Solve the inequality 45𝑥 < 64𝑥+2

Solution: 45𝑥 < 64𝑥+2
45𝑥 < (43 )𝑥+2 → Both sides of the equation can be written with base 4. (64 → 43 )
5𝑥 < (3)(𝑥 + 2) → Equate the exponents. Do not change the inequality since the base is greater than 1. (base is 4)
5𝑥 < 3𝑥 + 6 → Simplify.
5𝑥 − 3𝑥 < 6 → Transpose 3𝑥 to the left side or subtract 3𝑥 to both sides.
2𝑥 < 6 → Simplify.
2𝑥 6
< → Divide both sides of the equation by 2.
2 2
𝒙<𝟑 → Simplify. The solution set is [−∞, 3).
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1 𝑥+3 1 𝑥+8
Example: Solve the inequality (25) ≤ (5)
1 𝑥+3 1 𝑥+8
Solution: (25) ≤ (5)
1 𝑥+3 1 𝑥+8 1 1 1
(52 ) ≤ (5) → Both sides of the equation can be written with base 5. (25 → 52)
1
(2)(𝑥 + 3) ≥ 𝑥 + 8 → Equate the exponents. Reverse the inequality since the base is less than 1. (base is )
5
2𝑥 + 6 ≥ 𝑥 + 8 → Simplify.
2𝑥 − 𝑥 ≥ 8 − 6 → Transpose 3𝑥 to the left side or subtract 3𝑥 to both sides.
𝒙≥𝟐 → Simplify. The solution set is [2, +∞].

TASK 5: Solve the given exponential inequalities. Check your answer on page 3 of this module.
1 𝑥−2 1 𝑥+4
1. 5𝑥+1 ≥ 252 2. (81) < (9 ) 3. 2401𝑥+1 ≤ 492−𝑥

ENGAGEMENT

TASK 6: Determine whether the given statements are true or false. Write EQ if it is true and IQ if false. Write
your answer in the Answer Sheet.
1) The number 64 is a power of 2, 4, and 8.
2) In an exponential inequality, the inequality must be reversed to solve when each side of the
inequality has a base equal to 5.
3) The variable 𝑥 is equal to 1 in the exponential equation 35−2𝑥 = 27.
1 𝑥 1 2𝑥+1
4) There is NO SOLUTION in the exponential inequality (36) > (6) .
5) In the exponential inequality 10 𝑥−5
≥ 100 , 6 is a possible value of 𝑥.
3

TASK 7: Solve the given exponential equations. Write your answer in the Answer Sheet.
1 −10−2𝑥
1) 6𝑥−3 = 216 2) 1443𝑥+1 = ( ) 3) 49𝑥−2 = 7𝑥+5
12

TASK 8: Solve the given exponential inequalities. Write your answer in the Answer Sheet.
1 𝑥+2 1 𝑥+7
1) 11𝑥+4 ≤ 1213 2) (64) < (8) 3) 81𝑥−3 ≤ 33𝑥−1

Key to Correction
Task 2 Task 3 Task 4
1. 625 1. 35 1 𝑥−7
1. 7 𝑥+2
= 343 2. 81 𝑥−2
= (3) 3. 193−𝑥 = 361𝑥+1
2. 196 2. 84 7𝑥+2 = 73 4 𝑥−2 193−𝑥 = (192 )𝑥+1
(3 ) = (3−1 )𝑥−7
3. 729 3. 45 𝑜𝑟 210 𝑥+2=3 3 − 𝑥 = (2)(𝑥 + 1)
(4)(𝑥 − 2) = (−1)(𝑥 + 4)
4. 512 4. 64 𝑥 =3−2 3 − 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 2
4𝑥 − 8 = −𝑥 + 7
5. 2197 5. 25 𝒙=𝟏 −𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 2 − 3
4𝑥 + 𝑥 = 7 + 8
5𝑥 15 −3𝑥 −1
= 5 =
5 −3 −3
𝒙=𝟑 𝟏
𝒙=
𝟑

Task 5
1 𝑥−2 1 𝑥+4
1. 5 𝑥+1
≥ 25 2
2. (81) < (9 ) 3. 2401𝑥+1 ≤ 492−𝑥
5𝑥+1 ≥ (52 )2 1 𝑥−2 1 𝑥+4
(74 )𝑥+1 ≤ (72 )2−𝑥
𝑥 + 1 ≥ (2)(2) (92 ) < (9 ) (4)(𝑥 + 1) ≤ (2)(2 − 𝑥 )
𝑥+1 ≥4 (2)(𝑥 − 2) > 𝑥 + 4 4𝑥 + 4 ≤ 4 − 2𝑥
𝑥 ≥4−1 2𝑥 − 4 > 𝑥 + 4 4𝑥 + 2𝑥 ≤ 4 − 4
𝒙≥𝟑 2𝑥 − 𝑥 > 4 + 4 6𝑥 ≤ 0
𝒙>𝟖 𝒙≤𝟎

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ASSIMILATION

TASK 9: Read the statements carefully. Write only the letter of the correct answer in the Answer Sheet.
1) Which of the following is equivalent to 64?
A. 26 B. 43 C. 82 D. All the choices
2) What is the value of 𝑥 in the exponential equation 5 3𝑥
= 125?
A. 𝑥 = 0 B. 𝑥 = 1 C. 𝑥 = 2 D. 𝑥 = 3
3) Which value of 𝑥 will make the equation 2 = 𝑥 ? 𝑥 2

A. 2 B. 1 C. both A and B D. none

4) What base can be used to solve the exponential equation 4 = 16 𝑥 3−𝑥
?
A. 2 B. 4 C. both A and B D. none
5) In the exponential equation 8𝑥 = 4𝑥+5 , what is the value of 𝑥?
A. 𝑥 = 10 B. 𝑥 = 5 C. 𝑥 = 0 D. 𝑥 = −5
6) Which exponential equation has NO SOLUTION?
A. 49𝑥−3 = 72𝑥 B. 4𝑥−3 = 16𝑥 C. 125𝑥−3 = 253𝑥 D. 121𝑥−3 = 11𝑥
7) In the exponential inequality 5𝑚 ≤ 5𝑛 , how will you compare the value of 𝑚 and 𝑛?
A. 𝑚 < 𝑛 B. 𝑚 > 𝑛 C. 𝑚 ≤ 𝑛 D. 𝑚 ≥ 𝑛
2 𝑚 2 𝑛
8) Suppose ( ) > ( ) . Which is true about 𝑚 and 𝑛?
5 5

A. 𝑚 < 𝑛 B. 𝑚 > 𝑛 C. 𝑚 ≤ 𝑛 D. 𝑚 ≥ 𝑛
9) Given that 196 𝑥−1
≤ 14 𝑥+3
. What are the possible values of 𝑥?
A. 𝑥 ≥ 4 B. 𝑥 ≥ 5 C. 𝑥 ≤ 4 D. 𝑥 ≤ 5
1 𝑥−3 1 𝑥−2
10) Which of the following is NOT a possible value of 𝑥 in (4) > (2) ?

A. 7 B. 6 C. 5 D. 4

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