Lesson 4.

2 Exponential Functions
Properties of the Exponential Function Video tutorial
Graph of f(x) = ax, a > 1
Graph of f(x) = a-x, a>1
Domain
,
,
Range

0,

0,

Intercept
Increasing or Decreasing

(0, 1)

(0, 1)

Increases on ,

Decreases on ,

x-axis or y =0

x-axis or y = 0

Horizontal Asymptotes

Video tutorial
A.

Graph of f(x) = ax, a > 1

Graph of f(x) = a-x, a>1

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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

B.Transformations of Graphs of Exponential Functions Video tutorial
Shifts Left
Shifts Right
Shifts Up
Shifts Down
Reflects around the x-axis
Reflects around y-axis

f(x) = a(x + c)
f(x) = a(x c)
f(x) = ax + c
f(x) = ax c
f(x) = -ax
f(x) = a-x

The Graph of
f ( x) e x
C. The Natural Base, e.
Video tutorial
In many mathematical applications (like interest
problems and population decay and growth
problems), there is a certain number that shows up in
the pattern.
We call this number, e. The value of e
2.718281828
Algebraically, e can be approximated by the expression:

1
1 x

D. To graph functions with ex, you can construct a table of values and plug in
points.

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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

E. Sketch a graph of the function by transformations. State the domain, range,
asymptote and y-intercept of the function.
_______________________________________________________________________
1. Graph the function: f(x) = 3x + 4
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
2. Graph the function: f(x) = 5x 2
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
3. Graph the function: f(x) = 5x+1
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

4.

Graph the function: f(x) = 3-x

(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
5. Graph the function: f(x) = 5-x 4
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
6. Graph the function: f(x) = -5-x + 2
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video Tutorial
7.
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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

x

1
7. Graph the function: f(x) = 3
5
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)

HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______

Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
8. Graph the function: f(x) = e x 3 4
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

________________________________________________________________________
9. Graph the function: f(x) = 1 e x
(Show a dotted line for the asymptote)
HA: y = ___; Domain: ____; Range: _______
Intercept: (

Video tutorial

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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

F. Solve each equation. Video tutorials for 1-6
1.

5x 56

2.

1
1

64
4

3.

22 x1 4

4.

4x 2x

5.

5x

6.

e3 x e 2 x

1252 x

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Lesson 4.2 Exponential Functions

G. Solve each problem.
1.

The atmospheric pressure p on a balloon or plane decreases with increasing height. This pressure,
measured in millimeters of mercury, is related to the height h (in kilometers) above sea level by
the function
a.
b.

p( x) 760e0.145h

Find the atmospheric pressure at a height of 2 kilometers.

What is it at a height of 10 kilometers?

Video Tutorial

2.

The normal healing of wounds can be modeled by an exponential function. If A0 represents the
original area of the wound and if A equals the area of the wound, then the function

A(n) A0e0.35n describes the area of a wound after n days following an injury when no
infection is present to delay the healing. Suppose that a wound initially had an area of 100 square
millimeters.
a. If healing is taking place, how large will the area of the wound be after 3 days?

Video tutorial

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