Exponential Functions and

Their Graphs
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 Contrast
• Suppose you have a choice of two different
jobs at graduation
– Start at $30,000 with a 6% per year increase
– Start at $40,000 with $1200 per year raise
• Which should you choose?
– One is linear growth
– One is exponential growth

3
 Which Job?
Year Option A Option B

1 $30,000 $40,000
2 $31,800 $41,200
3 $33,708 $42,400

• How do we get each next 4

5
$35,730
$37,874
$43,600
$44,800
value for Option A? 6 $40,147 $46,000

• When is Option A better? 7

8
$42,556
$45,109
$47,200
$48,400

• When is Option B better? 9 $47,815 $49,600

10 $50,684 $50,800
11 $53,725 $52,000
12 $56,949 $53,200
• Rate of increase a 13 $60,366 $54,400

constant $1200 14 $63,988 $55,600

• Rate of increase changing

– Percent of increase is a constant
– Ratio of successive years is 1.06
4
The exponential function f with base a is
defined by
f(x) = ax
where a > 0, a  1, and x is any real number.

For instance,
f(x) = 3x and g(x) = 0.5x
are exponential functions.

5
 Definition of the Exponential Function

The exponential function f with base b is defined by

f (x) = bxx or y = bxx
Where b is a positive constant other than and x is any real number.

Here are some examples of exponential functions.

f (x) = 2x g(x) = 10x h(x) = 3x

Base is 2. Base is 10. Base is 3.

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The value of f(x) = 3x when x = 2 is
f(2) = 32 = 9

The value of f(x) = 3x when x = –2 is

1
f(–2) = 3 –2
=
9

The value of g(x) = 0.5x when x = 4 is

g(4) = 0.54 = 0.0625

7
 The graph of f(x) = ax, a > 1
y
Exponential
Growth
Function 4
Range: (0, )

(0, 1)
x
4
Horizontal Asymptote
y=0
Domain: (–, )

8
 The graph of f(x) = ax, 0 < a < 1
y
Exponential
Decay
4
Function Range: (0, )

(0, 1)

x
4
Horizontal Asymptote
y=0
Domain: (–, )

9
Properties of the Exponential
Function
y  f ( x)  b x b  0, b  1
1. The domain is  , .
2. The range is (0,  ).
3. It passes through (0, 1).
4. It is continuous everywhere.
5. If b > 1 it is increasing on  , .
If b < 1 it is decreasing 
on,  
.
Copyright © 2006 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson
Learning, Inc. 10
 Compare the graphs 2x, 3x , and 4x
f x   4 x
Characteristics about the
Graph of an Exponential
Function f x   a where a > 1
x

f x   3 x
1. Domain is all real numbers
2. Range is positive real numbers f x   2 x
3. There are no x intercepts because
there is no x value that you can put What
Can What
What you
is isis
the
seethe
the
range
the
x
What
Are is
these
the y
in the function to make it = 0 domain
intercept
of an ofofthese
horizontal
exponential
intercept of
exponential an
these
4. The y intercept is always (0,1) exponential
asymptote
exponential
function?
functionsfor
exponential
because a 0 = 1 these function?
functions?
functions?
increasing
functions? or
5. The graph is always increasing decreasing?
6. The x-axis (where y = 0) is a
horizontal asymptote for x  - 
11
y2 x All of the transformations that you
learned apply to all functions, so what
 2 of
would they graph
x
3
look like?
up 3

right 2 down 1
Reflected over x2
up 1 x axis y2 1
y  1 2 x

12
 Example: Sketch the graph of f(x) = 2x.

x f(x) (x, f(x)) y

-2 ¼ (-2, ¼) 4
-1 ½ (-1, ½)
2
0 1 (0, 1)
1 2 (1, 2) x
2 4 (2, 4) –2 2

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 Transformations Involving Exponential Functions
Transformation Equation Description

Horizontal g(x) = bx+c • Shiftsthe graph of f (x) = bx to the left c units if c > 0.
translation • Shifts the graph of f (x) = bx to the right c units if c < 0.

Vertical stretching or g(x) = cbx Multiplying y-coordintates of f (x) = bx by c,

shrinking • Stretches the graph of f (x) = bx if c > 1.
• Shrinks the graph of f (x) = bx if 0 < c < 1.

Reflecting g(x) = -bx • Reflectsthe graph of f (x) = bx about the x-axis.

g(x) = b-x • Reflects the graph of f (x) = bx about the y-axis.

Vertical translation g(x) = bx+ c • Shiftsthe graph of f (x) = bx upward c units if c > 0.
• Shifts the graph of f (x) = bx downward c units if c < 0.

14
Example: Sketch the graph of g(x) = 2x – 1. State the
domain and range.
y f(x) = 2x
The graph of this
function is a vertical
translation of the 4
graph of f(x) = 2x
down one unit . 2

Domain: (–, ) x
y = –1
Range: (–1, )

15
Example: Sketch the graph of g(x) = 2-x. State the
domain and range.
y f(x) = 2x
The graph of this
function is a
reflection the graph 4
of f(x) = 2x in the y-
axis.

Domain: (–, ) x
–2 2
Range: (0, )

16
 Discuss these transformations
• y = 2(x+1)
• Left 1 unit
• y = 2x + 2
• Up 2 units
• y = 2-x – 2
• Ry, then down 2 units

17
 Special Symbols
• Math uses special symbols at times to
represent special numbers used in
calculations.
• The symbol  (pi) represents 3.14…..

• The symbol “i” represents 1

18
(The Euler #) e is an irrational #,
where
e  2.718281828…
is used in applications involving growth
and decay.

19
 The graph of f(x) = ex
y
x f(x)
Natural
Exponential 6
-2 0.14
Function -1 0.38
4
0 1
2 1 2.72
2 7.39
x
–2 2

20
 Exponential Modeling
• Population growth often modeled by exponential
function

• Half life of radioactive materials modeled by

exponential function

21
 Compounded Interest

• Table of results from

calculator
– Set y= screen
y1(x)=100*1.05^x
– Choose Table (Diamond Y)

• Graph of results

22