Exponential Functions

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The exponential function with base b is

defined by
y = bx
where b > 0, b≠ 1, and b is a constant.
The independent variable is x with the domain of real
numbers.

f (x)
Let's examine the x
=y
function: 2-2 =
The value of b (the 2) may be -2
referred to as the common ¼
factor or "multiplier". It may
also be referred to as 2-1 =
the "ratio" of successive terms. -1
Remember, exponential ½
functions grow by common 0
factors over equal intervals.
0 2 =1
1 21 = 2
2 22 = 4
3 23 = 8
Most exponential graphs resemble this same basic shape. Notice that the y-
values of the graph are very, very small on its left side making it extremely
close to the x-axis. As the x-values increase to the right, the graph's y-values
grow faster and faster, shooting quickly off the top of the graph.

Note: In a linear graph, the "rate of change" remains the same across the
entire graph.
In an exponential graph, the "rate of change" increases (or decreases) across
the graph.

Characteristics of Exponential Functions

The graphs of functions of the form y = bx have certain characteristics in
common.
• graph crosses the y-axis at (0,1)

• when b > 1, the graph increases

• when 0 < b < 1, the graph decreases

• the domain is all real numbers

• the range is all positive real numbers

(never zero)

• graph passes the vertical line test for

functions

• graph passes the horizontal line test for

functional inverse.
Exponential functions are one-to-one functions.
• graph is asymptotic to the x-axis - gets
very, very close to the x-axis but, in this
case, does not touch it or cross it.

Transformations on Exponentials
We know that transformations have the ability to move functions by sliding
them, reflecting them, stretching them, and shrinking them. Let's see how
these changes will affect the exponential function:
Parent function: y = bx
y = abx y = abx Translation y = b(x -
h)
Stretch (|a| > 1): Reflection (a < 0) in x- +k
Compress or Shrink axis: horizontal by h:
(0 < |a| < 1): vertical by k:

Domain: x ∈ Real numbers Domain: x ∈ Real

Domain: x ∈ Real Range: y < 0 numbers
numbers Range: if a > 0, y > k
Range: y > 0 (if a < 0, range y < k )

All 3 transformations combined: y = ab(x - h) + k

The Intercepts of Exponentials

By examining the nature of the exponential graph, we have seen that the
parent function will stay above the x-axis, unless acted upon by a
transformation.
• The parent function, y = bx, will always have a y-intercept of one,
occurring at the ordered pair of (0,1). Algebraically speaking, when x = 0, we
have y = b0 which is always equal to 1.
There is no x-intercept with the parent function since it is asymptotic to
the x-axis (approaches the x-axis but does not touch or cross it).

• The transformed parent function of the form y = abx, will always have
a y-intercept of a, occurring at the ordered pair of (0, a). Again,
algebraically speaking, when x = 0, we have y = ab0 which is always equal
to a•1 or a. Note that the value of a may be positive or negative.
Like the parent function, this transformation will be asymptotic to the x-axis,
and will have no x-intercept.

• If the transformed parent function includes a vertical

or horizontal shift, all bets are off. The horizontal shift
will affect the y-intercept and the vertical shift will affect
the possibility of an x-intercept. In this situation, you will
need to examine the graph carefully to determine what is
happening.

The End Behavior of Exponentials

The end behavior of an exponential graph also depends upon whether you are
dealing with the parent function or with one of its transformations.
• The end behavior of the parent function is
consistent.

- if b > 1 (increasing function), the left side of the

graph approaches a y-value of 0, and the right side
approaches positive infinity.

- if 0 < b < 1 (decreasing function), the right side of

the graph approaches a y-value of 0, and the left side
approaches positive infinity.
• The end behavior of a transformed parent function is not always
consistent, but is dependent upon the nature of the transformation. Consider
this example:
For the transformed
equation y = 2(x+3) - 4,
the vertical shift of -4 will push
the asymptote line down four
units.
 Thus the end behavior will be:

The y-intercept, where x = 0, is

4.
y = 2(0+3) - 4 = 8 - 4 = 4
The x-intercept, where y = 0, is
-1.
0 = 2(x+3) - 4
4 = 2(x+3)
22 = 2(x+3)
x = -1

Inverse of an Exponential Function

In Algebra 1, you saw that when working with the inverse of a function, the
inputs (x) and outputs (y) exchange places, and that the inverse will be a
reflection over the identity line y = x.

Let's take a look at the inverse of f (x) = 2x.

f (x) = 2x
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) ¼ ½ 1 2 4 8

The inverse: f -1 (x)

x ¼ ½ 1 2 4 8
f-1(x) -2 -1 0 1 2 3

This new inverse function is called

a logarithmic function and is expressed
by the equation:
y = log2 (x)

This same approach can be used to graph the inverse function when 0 < b <
1, such as y = 0.5x.
g(x) = 0.5x
x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
g(x) 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8

The inverse: g -1(x)

x 4 2 1 1/2 1/4 1/8
g-1(x) -2 -1 0 1 2 3

This new inverse function

(the logarithmic function) is expressed
by the equation:
y = log0.5 (x)
Solving Algebraically for the Inverses shown above:

Graph Inverse Graph Inverse

y = 2x • set the equation equal to yy = 0.5x • set the equation equal to y

x = 2y • swap the x and y x = 0.5y • swap the x and y
y= • solve for y by rewriting iny = • solve for y by rewriting in
log2x log form log0.5x log form

Alternate method of finding an inverse

algebraically:
set the equation equal to y

swap the x and y variables

take the log of both sides

apply the rule: log ar = r log a

solve for y

apply the change of base

formula:
logb a = log a / log b

Interesting Application of f (x) = 2x:

There is a well-known fable about a man from India who invented the game
of chess, as a gift for his king. The king was so pleased with the game that he
offered to grant the man any request within reason. The man asked for one
grain of wheat to be placed on the first square of the chess board, two grains
on the second square, four on the third, eight on the fourth, etc., doubling the
number of grains of wheat each time, until all 64 squares on the board had
been used. The king, thinking this to be a small request, agreed.

How many grains of wheat did the king have to place on the 64th square of
the chess board?

Number of the
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ... 63
doubling
Wheat on each
1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 512 ... 9,223,372,036,854,775,808
square
Pattern 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ... 263

In total, the king placed 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 grains of wheat on the

board. This is reported to be more wheat than exists today in the entire world.

The moral of this story is, as stated by Carl Sagan, that "exponentials can't go
on forever, because they will gobble up everything." One cannot treat large
but finite resources as infinite.

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