EXPONENTS & LOGARITHMS

EXPONENTS

In the expression a b , a is called the base and b is called the exponent.

Integer Exponents :
When n is a positive integer, and x is a real number, then the n-th power of x is written as
x n = x Bx Bx Bx Bx ……AA multiplied n times

Example :
f g4
1f
f
f 1f
f1f
f f1f
f f1f
f f 1
f f
f
ff
ff
f
= A A A =
3 3 3 3 3 81
@ 2 = @ 2 A @ 2 A @ 2 A @ 2 A @ 2 A @ 2 = 64
` a6 ` a` a` a` a` a` a

but @2 = @ 2.2 A 2.2 A 2.2 = @ 64

6

Laws
B
of exponents : C
for a and b being real numbers and m and n being integers
m
af
ff
ff
ff
f m@n
am A an = am + n =a
an
d em m
aff
f
f af
ff
f
fff
f
= am A b = m
` am m
ab
b b
= a mn a =1
an
am 0
`

1f
1f
ff
ff
f
ff f
f
ff
f
ff w
w
w
w
ww
w
a@ m = m a m = mp a
a

Example:
f
f
f1f
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f f1f
f
ff
f
f
x 3 A x 9 = x 3 + 9 = x 12 = 2x = 2x = ` a1 =
` a4 ` a@ 5 ` a4 @ 5 ` a@ 1
2x A 2x
2x 2x
9
xf
ff
ff
ff 9@5
=x = x4 2x = 2 A x 5 = 32 x 5
` a5 5
5
x
d e5 5
xff
ff xf
ff
ff
ff
b c3
= 5 x2 = x6
2 2
f g0
2f
f
f 1f
f
ff
ff f1f
f
ff
f
f
=1 = =
@2
5 2
3 5 25
 b c4b c@ 3
2 3 4
2x
f
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
f
f
yf
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
3x
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
yf
f
ff
fff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
Example : Simplify
x2 y

Solution :
b c4b c@ 3
2 3 4
2x
f
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
f
f
yf
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
3x
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
yf
f
ff
fff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
x2 y
c4 1f 1f 1f
= 2x 2 y 3 A bf
f
ff
f
ff
f
fff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff f
ff
ff
f
ff
f
f
using a@ m = ff
ff
ff
f
b
c3 A 2 a m
3x y 4 x y
b c4b c4 1f 1f
=2 x2 y3 A ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
fff
ff
ff
f
ff
f
f
= am b
4 ` am m
b c3 A 2 using ab
3 x y4 x y
3 3

1f 1f
= 16 x 8 y12 A f
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
fff
A f
ffff
f
ff
f
f
= am b
` am m
3 12 2
using ab
27 x y x y
8 12
16 xf yf
= ff
f
ff
f
ffff
f
ff
f
ff
ff
f
5 13
f
f
ff
ff
using a m a n = a m + n
27 x y
m
16 af
= ff
f
ff
f
f3 @1
x y using ff
f
fff
f m@ n
=a
27 an
h i@ 3
@2 @3
xf yf zf
Example : Simplify j f
ff
f f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
2 3 @4
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
k
x y z

Solution :
h i@ 3
@2 @3
j xf
f
ff
fyf
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
fzf
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
k
2 3 @4
x y z
m
c@ 3 af
f
ff
fff
f m@ n
= x 1 @ 2 A y@ 2 @ 3 A z@ 3 + 4 n =a
b
Using
a
c@ 3
= x @ 1 y@ 5 z1
b

c@ 3b c@ 3` a@ 3
= x@ 1 = am A b
b am m
y@ 5
`
z Using ab
= x 3 y15 z@ 3 = a mn
an
Using a m
`

3 15
xf
f
fff
f
fyf
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff 1f
ff
ff
f
ff
= Using a@ m =
z3 am
Radicals :
n
We know that 4 where n is an integer means 4 multiplied n times. But if the power is a
2f
2f f
f
ff
rational number like ff
then what will 4 3 mean? To understand that we first need to
3
1f
f
f
ff
understand 4 3 , which is a radical.

If n is a positive integer then the principal n-th root of a is defined as

1f
nw
w
w
w
ww
w f
ff
f
f
a = a n = b when b = a
n
p

If n is even, a must be positive for b to be real, because as b = a , any real number b

n

nw
w
w
w
ww
w
multiplied even number of times will be positive. So, if n is even and a is negative, p a
4w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
is not real. ( p@ 5 is not real and is a complex number.
If n is even we must have a ≥ 0 and b ≥ 0

3w
w
w
w
ww 3w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
However, if n is odd, a can be either positive or negative. ( p5 and p@ 5 are both real
).

Properties of Radicals :
nw
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w w
w
w
w
wwnw
w w
w
w
ww
w
1 A p ab = p
n
a pb
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
w p nww
ww
w
w
w
n a
ff
ff fffaf
f
f
ff
ff
f
f
2Ar =p
nww
ww
w
w
w
b b
w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w w
w
w
w
ww
w
n
3 A mqp a = mnp a
nw
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
4 A p a n = a if n is odd,
root n a n = |a| if n is even A
` a

Examples :
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w 5fffff 5f
4w w
ww
ww
w f
ff
f
x5 = p x =x4
4
q
Rational Exponents :

Rational exponent or fractional exponent has a rational number in the power like
2f
f
f
ff 1f
f
ff
f 8f
f
ff
f
4 3 , 8 2 , a 3 etc.
nw
w
w
w
ww
w
If m and n are integers , n>0 and a is a real number and p a is also a real number
nw
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
m m
nw
w
w
w
ww
w
f
f
ff
f
ff
f cm f
f
ff
f
ff
f
an = p a n = pa m
b
a or

With this definition it is easy to see that the Laws of Exponents can also be applied to
Rational Exponents.

Example :
1f
f
ff
f
1f 1f f 1f
= f
ff
ff
fff
f f f
f
f
= 3w f
ff
f
ff
f
f
w=
f f
ff
@
64 3
1f w
w
w
w w
w
ww
w
ff
p 64 4
64 3
3w
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww
w
w
w
ww 2f
f
f
ff c2
@ 27 3 = p@ 27 = @ 3 = 9
` a ` a2 b

5f
f
f
ff
1f 1f
= fffff
f f f
f
f
= 3w f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
f
@
x 3
5f
f
f
w
w
w
w w
w
w
ww
w
x 3 qx 5
d 4f
f
f
ff
e3b c 2fffff
@ 3
Example : Simplify 2x 4 y 5 8 y2

Solution :
d e3b
4f
f
ff
f c 2fffff
4 @ 2 3
2x y 5 8y
d 4f
f
ff
f
ed 2f
f
f
ff 2f
f
f
e
f
f
= 2 x 4 B3 y
3 @ B3 2B
5 83 y 3

3w
w
w
w
wwc2 2 B 2fffffg
12
d ff
ff
f
ff
f
f
efb
= 2 x y
3 12 @ p
5 8 y 3

3w
w
w
w
wwc2
d 12
ff
ff
f
f
efb
f
f
f 4f
f
f
ff
g
= 2 x 12 y
3 @ p
5 8 y3
12
ff
ff
f
f
ff 4f
f f
ff
f
+
= 2 A2 x 12 y
3 2 @
5 3

@
f
ff
f
f
f36
f
f
ff
f
ff
f
f
ff
f
f+
f
f
ff
f
f20
f
f
ff
f
f
ff
f
ff
f
f 16
ff
f
f
ff
f
ff
= 2 x 12 y = 32 x 12 y
5 @
15 15
 EXPONENTIAL FUNCTION
3
Earlier we have studied exponents like 2 or a b . Here the exponents 3 and b are
constants. Can we put a variable (say x ) in the exponent and express a function that way?
x sin x
Something like 4 or 2 ? Yes, we can. These are called exponential functions.

In a function, if the independent variable is in the exponent, and the base is a real number
greater than 0 and not equal to 1, it is called an exponential function. It is expressed as
f x = a x , where a is a real number, a>0, a ≠ 1.
` a

The domain of this exponential function (i.e. the possible values of x ) is the set of real
numbers. a x is a real number for any real number x.

f g2x
x @x 1f
f
f @ x2
Example : 2 , 3 , ,2etc are examples of exponential functions.
3
x
2 is an exponential function, as the independent variable x is in the exponent, and the
base 2 is a real number greater than 0.

Graphs of exponential functions :

To draw the graph of exponential functions y = f(x), we make a table consisting two
columns : one for x and one for y . We take different values of x and calculate the
corresponding values of y or f(x) . Then we plot the points in a graph and join them with
a smooth curve. This is the graph of the given exponential function .

We try to draw the graph of f x = 2 taking y = 2 and making the table

` a x x

x: -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y: 1f
f
ff
f
ff 1f
f
f 1f
f
ff 1f
f
f 1 2 4 8 16
16 8 4 2

We try to draw the graph of f x = 3 taking y = 3

` a @x @x
and making the table
x: -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
y: 81 27 9 3 1 1ff
f 1ff
f 1f
f
ff
f
ff 1f
fff
f
ff
3 9 27 81

We plot them in the graph and get the following graphs.

The irrational number e is defined as :
1ff 1f f 1ff 1
e=1+ f f
f
+ fff
+ f f
f
+ f
f
ff
f
f '
+ 1
1! 2! 3! 4!
gn
1f
f
f
ff
= n lim 1+
Q1 n
It can be shown that e ≈ 2.71828

LOGARITHM

If a m = N where N>0 and a>0,a ≠ 1 ,

b c

then m = loga N m is the logarithm of N to the base a A

b c
Examples :
1 A Find log5 125 A
We know, 5 = 125
3

[ then log5 125 = 3 A

2 A Find log5 0.04 A
4f
f
ff
ff
f
ff
f 1f
f ff
ff 1
f
f f
ff
ff
f @2
We know, 0.04 = = = =5
100 25 5 2
[ then log5 0.04 = @ 2
` a
3 A Find log5 @ 10 A
We know, there is no real number x for which 5 = @ 10
x

` a
[ then log5 @ 10 is undefined A

Rules of Logarithm :
By using the laws of exponents mentioned above, we can prove the following rules of
logarithm :
for m>0, n>0, a>0 & a ≠ 1, b being any real number ,
b c

1 A loga mn = loga m + loga n

` a

mf
d e
2 A loga f f
ff
f
= loga m @ loga n
n
3 A loga a b = b
b c

4 A loga m x = x loga m

When e is used as a base for logarithm :

The irrational number e as defined earlier in this chapter is used as a base in calculation
logarithm. A special symbol “ln” is used for this.
ln m = loge m
Natural logarithm : The logarithm with base as e is called natural logarithm. So natural
logarithm of 100 is ln 100 = loge 100 = 4.605

Common logarithm : The logarithm with base as 10 is called common logarithm. It is

sometimes denoted by omitting the base. So, log 100 = log10 100 = 2
Example `: a
a log4 2 + log4 32 = log4 2 A 32
` a
Law 1
= log4 64 = 3
48
f g
ff
ff
ff
f
f
b log2 48 @ log2 3 = log2
` a
Law 2
3
= log2 16 = 4

Change of base :
Sometimes we need to change the base of the logarithm. If the base is changed from b to
a for the logarithm of x , then the relation is
log
f
ff
f
ff
f
ff
af
f
fxf
ff
ff
f
logb x =
loga b

log xf ln xf
This can be used to change the base from 10 to e , log10 x = fff
ff
f
ff
f
fef
f
fff
ff
f
ff f
=
f
ff
ff
f
ff
fff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
` a
approx
loge 10 2.3026

This is very useful to find logarithm with uncommon base which cannot be found directly
in the calculator (the calculator gives direct values of natural and common logarithms
only). So, to find log3 8 , we can use
log 8f lnf8f
log3 8 = fff
f
ff
f
fff
ff
f
or log3 8 = f f
fff
ff
f
b c
common log (natural log)
log 3 ln 3

LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

A function of the form f x = loga x is called a logarithmic function. This is meaningful

` a

only when a>0 and a ≠ 1 A

If we take f x = loga x = y, then by the properties of logarithm, x = a y = F y which is

` a ` a

an exponential function of y. So, a logarithmic function can be seen as an inverse of an

exponential function. Thus the functions y = loga x, and x = a y are equivalent.
Some properties of logarithmic function f x = loga x :
` a

1. The domain of the function (i.e. the values of x), is the set of all positive real
numbers.
2. The range i.e. the values of f(x), is the set of real numbers.
3. f(1) = 0 and f(a) = 1.
4. f is an increasing function when a>1 and decreasing function if 0<a<1 (see the
graphs below).

Below is the graph of y = log3 x (as 3>1, the value of y increases with the increase in x)

Below is the graph of y = log0.5 x (as 0.5<1, the value of y decreases with the increase
in x)
Drawing graphs of logarithmic functions :

To draw the graph of logarithmic functions y = f(x), we make a table consisting two
columns : one for x and one for y . We take different values of x and calculate the
corresponding values of y or f(x) . Then we plot the points in a graph and join them with
a smooth curve. This is the graph of the given exponential function .

We try to draw the graph of f x = log2 x taking y = log2 x and making the table
` a

x: 1f
f
ff
f
ff 1f
f
f 1f
f
ff 1f
f
f 1 2 4 8 16
16 8 4 2
y: -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
We plot them in the graph and get the following graph.