NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

Basic
Worksheet 6.1 Laws of Rational Indices NF

(Refer to Book 4B Ch6 p. 6.6 – 6.16)

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Key Points
1. Radicals 3. Laws of rational indices
For any positive integer n, if x = a , n If a, b are positive numbers, and p, q are rational
then x is an nth root of a. numbers, then

We use the radical n

a to denote an nth root of a. Law (1): a p  a q = a p +q
ap
2. Rational Indices Law (2): a p  aq = = a p −q
aq
For integer m and positive integer n:
1 m Law (3): (a p ) q = a pq
a = a
n n
and a = ( a) = a
n n m n m

Law (4): (ab) p = a p b p

p
a ap
Law (5):   = p
b b
1
Note: a 0 = 1 and a − p =
ap

1. Find the values of the following radicals without using a calculator.

1 16
(a) 3
27 (b) 3 − (c) 4
8 625
Solution Solution Solution
∵ ( ) 3 = 27

∴ 3
27 =

2. Use a calculator to find the values of the following radicals, correct to 3 significant figures.
11
(a) 6
42 (b) 7
− 3.5 (c) 9 −
7
____________ ____________ ____________
(cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

3. Simplify the following expressions and express your answers with positive indices.
1 1
(a) x x
5 2
(b) y y
3 4 (c) ( x 2 y) 3
Solution Solution Solution

4. Express each of the following in the form x p, where p is a rational number.

(a) 6
x5 __________________ (b) (5 x ) −6 __________________
1 1
(c) __________________ (d) __________________
7
x 3 ( x ) −9

5. Find the values of the following without using a calculator.

1 1 1
−
5
(a) 83 (b) 16 4 (c) 32
Solution Solution Solution
1

83 = 3 8
=3 ( )3

6. Find the values of the following without using a calculator.

2 3 2
−
3
(a) 64 3 (b) 25 2 (c) 216
Solution Solution Solution
2 2
64 3 = [( )3 ] 3
2
3
=( ) 3

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

7. Use a calculator to find the values of the following, correct to 3 significant figures.
2
3 −
8
1
− 7
(a) 24 4 (b) 0.7 5
(c)  
9
____________ ____________ ____________
(cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (cor. to 3 sig. fig.) (cor. to 3 sig. fig.)

8. Simplify the following expressions and express your answers with positive indices.
−5
 3

8 2  1 
(a) a 4  (b) ( a −9 ) 3
(c)  
   1 
   a2 
Solution Solution Solution

9. Simplify the following expressions and express your answers with positive indices.
4
a
(a) a6 a (b)
8
a3
Solution Solution

8a  43 a 2 a 2  a3
3 3
(c) (d)
Solution Solution

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

10. Simplify the following expressions and express your answers with positive indices.
3

b 4  a a
3 2 −2  4
(a) (b)  
1  b4 
(a b )6 3 3  

Solution Solution

11. Solve the following equations for x > 0.

1 1
−
(a) x =4
3
(b) x 5
=2
Solution Solution
1
x3 = 4
3
 13 
 x  = 4( )
 
 
x=

12. Solve the following equations for x > 0.

2 3
− 1
(a) x = 36
3
(b) x 2
=
27
Solution Solution

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

Basic
Worksheet 6.2 Exponential Equations NF

(Refer to Book 4B Ch6 p. 6.16 – 6.19)

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Key Points
Some exponential equations can be solved by expressing both sides of the equation with the same base and applying
the following property:
For a  0 and a  1 ,
if a x = a y , then x = y .

Solve the following exponential equations. (1 – 6)

1
1. 2 x −3 = 16 2. 32 x =
81
Solution Solution
2 x −3 = 16
2 x −3 = 2 ( )

x−3 =

x 2

3. 5 3 = 4 25 4. 6 x + 2 = 36 3
Solution Solution

5. 9 x −1 = 27 6. 8− x = 32
Solution Solution

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

Solve the following exponential equations. (7 – 10)

7. 2 x +1 + 2 x = 6 8. 3 x − 3 x −1 = 54
Solution Solution
2 x +1 + 2 x = 6
2(2 x ) + 2 x = 6
( ) • 2x = 6

9. 4(4 x ) − 4 x−1 = 60 10. 2 x +1 + 2 x −1 = 10

Solution Solution

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

Basic
Worksheet 6.3 Exponential Functions and NF
their Graphs
(Refer to Book 4B Ch6 p. 6.19 – 6.32)
Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Key Points
Range of a a>1 0<a<1
Graph of y = a x

Common features 1. The graph cuts the y-axis at (0, 1).

2. The graph never cuts the x-axis. It lies above the x-axis.
3. The graph has neither a maximum point, a minimum point nor an axis of symmetry.
Differences 1. The value of y increases as x increases. 1. The value of y decreases as x increases.
2. The value of y gets closer and closer to 2. The value of y gets closer and closer to
zero as x decreases indefinitely. zero as x increases indefinitely.
3. As x increases, the rate of increase of y 3. As x increases, the rate of decrease of y
becomes greater. becomes smaller.

x
1
Note: The graphs of y = a x and y =   show reflectional symmetry with each other about the y-axis.
a

1. Which of the following are exponential functions of real numbers x? (Put a ‘✓’ in the
appropriate box.)
(a) f ( x) = x 4  (b) f ( x) = 0.001x 

(c) f ( x) = (−5) x  (d) f ( x) = 4 x 

0.5 x
2. Given that f ( x) = 2(3 x ) and g ( x) = , find the values of the following expressions.
5
(Give your answers correct to 3 significant figures if necessary.)
(a) f (1) + g (1) (b) 2 f (0) − g (−1) (c) f (1.5) + 3g (−0.5)
Solution Solution Solution
f (1) + g (1)
0.51
= 2(3 ) +
1

5
=

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

x
3
3. If f ( x) = a  and f ( 2) = 9 , find the value of a.
7
Solution

 5t 
4. The growth in the hair length (L mm) of a person after t days is estimated by L = 0.021.3  .
 
Find the growth in the hair length of the person after 150 days.
(Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.)
Solution

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

x
3
5. The following figure shows the graphs of the exponential functions y = 7 and y =   ,
x

2
x x
1 2
sketch the graphs of y =   and y =   on the same coordinate plane.
7 3

6. The following figure shows the graphs of the exponential functions y = 0.2 x and y = 0.5 x ,

sketch the graphs of y = 2 x and y = 5 x on the same coordinate plane.

7. In each of the following, determine whether the graphs of two given functions have
reflectional symmetry about the y-axis, and put a ‘✓’ in the appropriate box.
Yes No
(a) y = 0.9 x and y = −0.9 x  
x x
5 7
(b) y=  and y =    
7 5
(c) y = 8 x and y = 8 − x  

(d) y = 0.4 x and y = 2.5 x  

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NSS Mathematics in Action (2nd Edition) 4B Section Worksheets 6 Exponential Functions

8. The figure shows the graph of y = 3 x .

(a) Using the graph, find the values of
− 0 .8
1
(i) 31.7 , (ii)   .
3
(b) Solve the following equations graphically.
(i) 3 x = 10 (ii) 3 x = 24

Solution
−0.8
1 ) − 0.8
(a) (i) From the graph, (ii)   = [3( ] = 3( )

 3
when x = 1.7, y = ________. From the graph,
∴ 31.7 = ( )

(b) (i) From the graph, (ii)

when y = 10, x = ________.
∴ The solution of 3x = 10
is x = ________.

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