EXPONENTIAL &

LOGARITHMIC
FUNCTIONS
CLASS XI
• SAI PRIYANKA S • MANTHRAA M
• HARINI SIVARAM • HEMA PRIYADHARSHINI
• MADHUMITHA MANI • ADITI REDDY K
• SHWETHA SRI • SUPRAJA SRIKANTH
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION
• If 𝑎 is a positive real number other than unity, then a
function that associates each 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 to 𝑎 𝑥 is called the
exponential function.
• In other words, a function 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 defined by 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑎 𝑥 , where 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑎 ≠ 1 is called the exponential
function.
• We observe that the domain of an exponential function is
𝑅 the set of all real numbers −∞, ∞ and the range is the
set 0, ∞ as it attains only positive values.
• Graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥 is identical to that of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 for
𝑎 > 1 and graph 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 −𝑥 is identical to that of
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 for 0 < 𝑎 < 1.
CASE 1: WHEN 𝑎 > 1 CASE 11: WHEN 0 < 𝑎 < 1

• We observe that the values of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 increase • In this case, the values of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 decrease with
as the values of 𝑥 increase. the increase in 𝑥 and 𝑦 > 0 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅

< 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 0 > 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 0

• Also 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 ൞= 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0 • Also 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 ൞= 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0
> 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 0 < 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 0

• Thus the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 for 𝑎 > 1 is as shown • Thus the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 for 0 < 𝑎 < 1 is as shown
LAWS OF EXPONENTS
1. Product with same base 5. Quotient to a power
𝑥 𝑎 . 𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎+𝑏 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥𝑎
=
𝑦 𝑦𝑎
2. Power to power
6. Zero power
𝑥𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎𝑏
𝑥0 = 1
3. Quotient with same base
7. Negative power
𝑥𝑎
= 𝑥 𝑎−𝑏 1
𝑥𝑏 𝑥 −𝑎 =
𝑥𝑎
4. Product to a power
8. Quotient with negative power
(𝑥𝑦)𝑎 = 𝑥𝑎 . 𝑦𝑎
1
= 𝑥𝑎
𝑥 −𝑎
APPLICATIONS OF EXPONENTS
• Exponents are used in Computer Game Physics, pH and Richter Measuring Scales, Science, Engineering,
Economics,Accounting, Finance, and many other aspects of life. Here are a few examples
• Power of 2 exponents are the bases of all computing which is done in "Binary" or base 2 numbers.
• Money invested that earns interest on the interest follows exponential rate of growth to produce large
amounts of money.
• The World's Population is increasing in an exponential rate.
• During any spread of a disease the bacteria in our body multiply exponentially.
• Indirect example of using exponents is when we talk about extremely tiny or extremely big quantities. For
example, the term "nanometer" means 10−9 meter. The prefix "Nano" means the number 10−9 , which is an
extremely small decimal number (0.000000001).
• Or, within computer world we often hear about megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes. "Mega" means 106 or
one million, "giga" means 109 , and "tera" means 1012 .
APPLICATIONS OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Unrestricted population growth: A population of size P 𝑡 doubles in size every d (for doubling period)
time units. 𝑃0 = P 0 the initial size at time 𝑡 = 0.
• Example: A population starts with 400 individuals and doubles every 5 years.
P 𝑡 = 𝑃0 . 2𝑡𝑙𝑑 P 𝑡 = 400 . 2𝑡𝑙5
• Radioactive decay: An amount A 𝑡 of a radioactive material decays by losing half of its mass every h (for
half-life) time units. 𝐴0 = A 0 the initial mass at time 𝑡 = 0.
• Example: An initial amount of 750g of a material with a half life of 12 days.

1 𝑡𝑙ℎ 1 𝑡𝑙12
𝐴 𝑡 = 𝐴0 . = 𝐴0 . 2−𝑡𝑙ℎ 𝐴 𝑡 = 750 . = 750 . 2−𝑡𝑙12
2 2

• Compound Interest: The amount of money 𝐴 𝑡 in a compound interest account from principal P, at
interest rate r (expressed as a decimal), compounded n times per year and invested for t years.
APPLICATIONS OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Example: Invest $600 at 6% compounded monthly.
𝑟 𝑛𝑡 .06 12𝑡
𝐴 𝑡 =𝑃 1+ 𝐴 𝑡 = 600 1 +
𝑛 12

• Continuously Compounded Interest: The amount of money 𝐴 𝑡 in a continuously compounded

interest account from principal P, at interest rate r (expressed as a decimal) invested for t years.
• Example: Invest $320 at 4.25% compounded continuously.
𝐴 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑒 𝑟𝑡 𝐴 𝑡 = 320𝑒 .0425𝑡
• Credit Card Interest: The balance due after a month containing d days with average daily balance 𝐵0 , at
interest rate r (expressed as a decimal).
• Example: Balance due after 31 days with an average daily balance of $870 at 19%.
𝑟 𝑑 .19 31
𝐵 = 𝐵0 1 + 𝐵 = 870 1 +
365 365
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTION
• If two variables 𝑥 and 𝑦 are connected by the relation 𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥 where
the base is positive, then ‘𝑦’ is said to be logarithmic function of 𝑥.
• In other words, If 𝑎 > 0 and 𝑎 is not equal to 1, then the function defined
by 𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑥 , 𝑥 > 0 is called the logarithmic function.
• The logarithmic function and the exponential function are inverse
functions i.e. , log 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑦  𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑦 .
• The domain of the logarithmic function is the set of all non-negative real
numbers i.e. 0, ∞ and the range is the set 𝑅 of all real numbers
−∞, ∞ .
• The domain and range of logarithmic function are inverse of the domain
and range of the exponential function i.e. Domain of exponential function
= 𝑅, Range of logarithmic function = 0, ∞ and Domain of logarithmic
function = 0, ∞ Range of logarithmic function = 𝑅.
CASE 1: WHEN 𝑎 > 1 CASE 11: WHEN 0 < 𝑎 < 1

• We observe that the values of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑥 • In this case, the values of 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑥 decrease
increase as the values of 𝑥 increase. with the increase in 𝑥 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅

< 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 < 𝑥 < 1 > 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 < 𝑥 < 1

• Also 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 ൞= 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥=1 • Also 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 ൞= 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥=1
> 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥>1 < 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥>1

• Thus the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑥 for 𝑎 > 1 is as shown • Thus the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = log 𝑎 𝑥 for 0 < 𝑎 < 1 is as
shown
PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS
1. Product Rule
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀𝑁 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑁
2. The Quotient Rule
𝑀
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀 - 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑁
𝑁

3. The Power Rule

𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀𝑝 = 𝑝 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀
4. Change of Base Rule
log 𝑀
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏 𝑀 =
log 𝑏

5. If 𝑀 = 𝑁, then 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑀 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑁 ,

𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑀 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑁 , then 𝑀 = 𝑁
APPLICATIONS OF LOGARITHMS
Logarithms can be used to talk about things that can be both tiny and gigantic, such as in
• earthquake magnitudes,
• noise levels in decibels, and
• acidity (pH).
• money growing with fixed interest rate,
• bacteria growing in a petri dish,
• radioactive decay, for example in Radiocarbon dating, and
• the sound made by a bell.
Logarithms can also be used in calculations by
• turning multiplication into addition.