F6 MACO DSE08

Methodist College
F.6 Mathematics
DSE Practice 08: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Name: Class: Class Number: Date:

Exponential Functions
Basic
( xy) 2
1. (Sample-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
x 5 y 6
(3 marks)

(m5n 2 )6
2. (PP-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
m4n 3
(3 marks)

m 12 n8
3. (2012-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
n3
(3 marks)

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x 20 y13
4. (2013-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
( x5 y )6
(3 marks)

( xy 2 )3
5. (2014-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
y4
(3 marks)

m9
6. (2015-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
( m3 n  7 )5
(3 marks)

( x8 y 7 ) 2
7. (2016-1-1) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
x5 y 6
(3 marks)

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(m4 n 1 )3
8. (2017-1-2) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
( m  2 )5
(3 marks)

xy7
9. (2018-1-2) Simplify and express your answer with positive indices.
( x  2 y 3 )4
(3 marks)

10. (Sample-2-1) (3a)2a3 =

A. 3a5 . B. 6a6 . C. 9a5 . D. 9a6 .

( 2 x 4 )3
11. (2012-2-1) =
2 x5
A. 3x2 . B. 3x7 . C. 4x7 . D. 4x59 .

12. (2014-2-1) (2n3)5 =

1 1 1 1
A. . B. . C. . D. .
32n 2 32n15 10n125 10n 243

(3 y 6 ) 4
13. (2015-2-2) =
3y2
A. 4y5 . B. 4y8 . C. 27y12 . D. 27y22 .

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(6 x 7 ) 2
14. (2019-2-2) =
4 x5
A. 3x4 . B. 9x4 . C. 3x9 . D. 9x9 .

Advanced

15. (PP-2-1) x3(2x + x) =

A. 3x4 . B. 2x5 . C. 3x5 . D. 2x6 .

16. (2013-2-1) (27  9n+1)3 =

A. 36n+12 . B. 36n+15. C. 39n+12. D. 39n+18.

82n 1
17. (2018-2-1) =
43n 1
A. 1. B. 2. C. 2n . D. 2n .

18. (2016-2-1) 8222  5666 =

A. 10666 . B. 10888 . C. 40666 . D. 40888 .

1
19. (2017-2-2) ( ) 3444 =
9555
1 1 1
A. 0. B. . C. . D. .
3111 3222 3666

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Logarithmic Functions
20. (2014-2-33) Which of the following is the greatest?
241
A. 124 . B. 241214 . C. 412142 . D. 421124 .

1
21. (PP-2-36) Let b>1. If a = log 12 b , then =
a
1 1 1
A. log b . B. log b 12 . C. log 12 . D. .
12 b log b 12

22. (2013-2-34) If x  log y = x2  log y 2  10 = 2 , then y =

A. 100 . B. 2 or 4 .
1 1
C. or 10 000 . D. or 100 .
100 10 000

 log 9 y  x  3
23. (2017-2-34) If  , then y =
 2(log 9 y ) 2
 4  x
1 1 7 1
A. 1 or . B. 1 or . C. 2 or . D. 3 or .
2 3 2 9

3 2 1
24. (2019-2-32) If 7 , then log =
3 log x  2 2 log x  1 x
A. 3 or 2 . B. 2 or 3 .
1 1 1 1
C.  or . D.  or .
3 2 2 3

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Logarithmic Graphs

25. (2014-2-32) The figure shows the graph of y = b x and the graph of y = c x on
the same rectangular coordinate system, where b and c are positive constants.
If a horizontal line L cuts the y-axis, the graph of y = b x and the graph of y = c x
at A , B and C respectively, which of the following are true?
y
I. b<c y = bx y = cx

II. bc > 1 L
AB A B C
III. = log b c
AC
A. I and II only B. I and III only x
O
C. II and III only D. I, II and III

26. (2018-2-32) The figure shows the graph of y y

y = log a x
= log a x and the graph of y = log b x on the
same rectangular coordinate system, where a
A
and b are positive constants. If a vertical
y = log b x
line cuts the graph of y = log a x , the graph of
B
y = log b x and the x-axis at A , B and C
respectively, which of the following is/are true?
x
O C
I. a>1
II. a>b
AB b
III. = log a
BC a
A. I only B. II only C. I and III only D. II and III only

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27. (2014-1-15) The graph in the figure shows the log 8 y

linear relation between log 4 x and log 8 y .
The slope and the intercept on the horizontal axis
of the graph are ⅓ and 3 respectively.
Express the relation between x and y in
log 4 x
the form y = Ax k , where A and k are O 3
constants.

28. (2017-1-15) Let a and b be constants. Denote the graph of y = a + log b x

by G . The x-intercept of G is 9 and G passes through the point (243 , 3) .
Express x in terms of y .

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29. (Sample-2-32) The graph in the figure shows

log 5 y
the linear relation between x and log 5 y .
If y = abx , then a =
2
A. 1.
B. 2.
C. 5. x
D. 25 . O

30. (PP-2-37) The graph in the figure shows the log 3 x

linear relation between log 3 t and log 3 x .
If x = kt a , then k =
log 3 t
1 5 O
A. . B. 81 .
81
4 5 4
C. . D. .
5 4

31. (2012-2-32) The graph in the figure shows log 3 y

the linear relation between x and log 3 y .
If y = mn x , then n = 4
1 1
A. . B. .
81 9
C. 9. D. 81 . x
2 O

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y
32. (2013-2-23) The figure shows the graph
of y = ab x , where a and b are
constants. Which of the following y = ab x
graphs represent the relation between x 3
x
and log 7 y ? O

A. log7 y B. log 7 y C. log 7 y D. log 7 y

O x O x

O x O x

33. (2015-2-32) The graph in the figure shows log 3 y

the linear relation between log 3 x and
log 3 y . Which of the following must be true?
2
A. x2 y 3 = 729
B. x3 y 2 = 729
log 3 x
C. x2 + y 3 = 729 O 3
D. x3 + y 2 = 729

34. (2016-2-32) The graph in the figure shows log 9 y

the linear relation between x and log 9 y .
If y = ab x , then b =
x
O 4
1 1
A. . B. .
2 81 2
C. 2 . D. 3.

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35. (2018-2-33) In the figure, the straight line L

log 4 y
shows the relation between log 4 x and log 4 y . L
It is given that L passes through the points (1 , 2)
and (9 , 6) . If y = kxa , then k =
1 3
A. . B. .
2 2
O log 4 x
C. 2. D. 8.

Other Logarithmic Questions

36. (Sample-1-17) A researcher defined Scale A and Scale B to represent the

magnitude of an explosion as shown in the following table.

Scale Formula
A M = log 4 E
B N = log 8 E

It is given that M and N are the magnitudes of an explosion on Scale A and

Scale B respectively while E is the relative energy released by the explosion. If
the magnitude of an explosion is 6.4 on Scale B , find the magnitude of the
explosion on Scale A . (5 marks)

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   5  18
37. (2019-1-16) Let  and  be real numbers such that  .
    2
 13  63
(a) Find  and  . (2 marks)
(b) The 1st term and the 2nd term of an arithmetic sequence are log  and log 
respectively. Find the least value of n such that the sum of the first n
terms of the sequence is greater than 888 . (4 marks)

Binary, Decimal and Hexadecimal Numbers

38. (Sample-2-33) 10100100010012 =
A. 212 + 210 + 137 . B. 212 + 210 + 273 .
C. 213 + 211 + 137 . D. 213 + 211 + 273 .

39. (PP-2-32) B000000002316 =

A. 11  1610 + 23 . B. 11  1610 + 35 .
C. 12  1611 + 23 . D. 12  1611 + 35 .

40. (2012-2-33) AD000000201216 =

A. (10)1611 + (13)1610 + 8210 . B. (10)1612 + (13)1611 + 131360 .
C. (11)1611 + (14)1610 + 8210 . D. (11)1612 + (14)1611 + 131360 .

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41. (2013-2-33) A00000E0001116 =

A. 10  1611 + 14  165 + 17 . B. 11  1611 + 15  165 + 17 .
C. 10  1612 + 14  166 + 272 . D. 11  1612 + 15  166 + 272 .

42. (2014-2-34) 7  210 + 28 + 5  23  23 =

A. 1110101000002 . B. 1111000100002 .
C. 11101001000002 . D. 11110000100002 .

43. (2015-2-33) 11 + 26 + 210 + 211 =

A. 1100010010112 . B. 1101001000112 .
C. 11000010010112 . D. 11010010000112 .

44. (2016-2-33) BC000DE00000016 =

A. 188  1611 + 222  166 . B. 205  1611 + 239  166 .
C. 188  1612 + 222  167 . D. 205  1612 + 239  167 .

45. (2017-2-32) 83 + 819 =

A. 1000000000001016 . B. 2000000000002016 .
C. 10000000000010016 . D. 20000000000020016 .

46. (2019-2-33) 1001100000101102 =

A. 19  210 + 22 . B. 19  210 + 44 .
C. 19  211 + 22 . D. 19  211 + 44 .

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F.6 Mathematics
DSE Practice 08: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Suggested Solutions
( xy) 2 x2 y2 x7
1. = = x2  (5) y 2  6 = x7 y 4 = 
x 5 y 6 x 5 y 6 y4

(m5n 2 )6 m30 n 12 m 26

2. = = m30  4 n 12  (3) = m26 n 9 = 
m4n 3 m4n3 n9

m 12 n8 n5
3. = m 12 n 8  3 = m 12 n 5 = 
n3 m12

x 20 y13 x 20 y13 y7
4. = =x 20  30
y 13  6
=x 10 7
y = 
( x5 y )6 x 30 y 6 x10

( xy 2 )3 x 3 y 6 x3
5. = = x3 y 6  4 = x3 y 10 = 
y4 y4 y10

m9 m9 n35
6. = = m9  15 n(35) = m 6 n 35 = 
( m3 n  7 )5 m15n  35 m6

( x8 y 7 ) 2 x16 y14
7. = = x16  5 y 14  (6) = x11 y 20 
x5 y 6 x5 y 6

(m4 n 1 )3 m12 n 3 m 22
8. = =m 12  (10)
n 3
=m n 22 3
= 
( m  2 )5 m 10 n3

xy7 xy7 x9
9. = = x1  (8) y 7  12 = x9 y 5 = 
( x  2 y 3 )4 x 8 y12 y5

10. C
(3a)2a3 = 32 a2  a3 = 9 a 2 + 3 = 9a5 (C) 

11. C (94)
( 2 x 4 )3 23 x12
= = 23  1 x12  5 = 22 x7 = 4x7 (C) 
2 x5 2 x5

12. B (94)
1 1
(2n3)5 = 25 n 15 = 5 15
= (B) 
2n 32n15

13. D (93)
(3 y 6 ) 4 34 y 24
= = 34  1 y 24  2 = 33 y 22 = 27 y 22 (D) 
3y2 3y2

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14. D(88)
(6 x 7 ) 2 36 x14 5
=
4 x5 4
9
= 9x (D) 

15. A
x3(2x + x) = x3(3x) = 3x3 + 1 = 3x4 (A) 

16. B (69)
(27  9n+1)3 = (33  (32)n + 1)3 = 39  36(n + 1) = 39  36n + 6 = 36n + 15 (B) 

17. B (71)
82n 1 23(2n 1) 26n  3
= = = 2(6n + 3)  (6n + 2) = 26n + 3  6n  2 = 2 (B) 
43n 1 22(3n 1) 26 n  2

18. A (47)
8222  5666 = 23  222  5666 = 2666  5666 = (2  5)666 = 10666 (A) 

19. D (72)
1 3444 1
( 555
) 3444
= 2  555
= 3444  2  555 = 3666 = 666 (D) 
9 3 3

20. B (54)
Consider log 124241 = 241 log 124 = 504.5146261 ,
log 241214 = 214 log 241 = 509.7516471 ,
log 412142 = 142 log 412 = 371.3154047 ,
log 421124 = 124 log 421 = 325.4109799 .
 241214 is the greatest. (B) 

21. B
1 1 log b 12
= = = log b 12 (B) 
a log12 b log b b

22. D (29)
Re-write the system of equations as
x  log y = 2 and x2  log y 2  10 = 2 .
Then x = 2 + log y . Substituting it into the second equation,
we have (2 + log y)2  2 log y  10 = 2 .
4 + 4 log y + (log y)2  2 log y  12 = 0
(log y)2 + 2 log y  8 = 0
(log y  2)(log y + 4) = 0
log y = 2 or 4
 y = 102 or 104

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1
= 100 or (D) 
10 000

23. D (41)
Summing up the two given equations, we have
2(log 9 y)2 + log 9 y = 1
2(log 9 y)2 + log 9 y  1 = 0
log 9 y = ½ or 1
 y = 9½ or 9 1
1
= 3 or 
9

24. D(35)
Let u = log x .
3 2
Then 7 =
3u  2 2u  1
3  21u  14 2
=
3u  2 2u  1
42u2  u  11 6u  4
=
42u2  7u  7 0 =
6u2  u  10 =
(3u + 1)(2u  1)0 =
1 1
 log x = u =  or
3 2
1 1 1
Hence, log = or  (D) 
x 3 2

25. C (41)
For the same value of x , from the graph, bx > c x .  b > c . I is wrong.
As both graphs are increasing, b > 1 and c > 1 .  bc > 1 . II is true.
Note that b AB = OA = y .  AB = log b y . Similarly, AC = log c y .
AB log b y log y log c log c
 = =  = = log b c . III is true. (C) 
AC log c y log b log y log b

26. C (34)
The graph is increasing.  a > 1 . I is true.
log x log x
log a x > log b x .  . log b > log a . b > a .  II is wrong.
log a log b
AB log a x  log b x log a x log b b
= = 1 =  1 = log a b  log a a = log a .
BC log b x log b x log a a
 III is true. (C) 

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log 8 y  0 1
27. = 
log 4 x  3 3
3 log 8 y =  log 4 x + 3
log 4 x + 3 log 8 y = 3
log 2 x
+ log 2 y = 3
2
x½ y = 23 = 8
i.e. y = 8 x½ 
28. 0 = a + log b 9 ................................ (1)
3 = a + log b 243 ............................ (2)
(2) – (1): 3 = log b 27
 b = 3
a = –2
i.e. y = –2 + log 3 x
log 3 x = y + 2
 x = 3y+2 

29. D
Let k be the x-intercept.
x log 5 y [Alternative Method]
Then  = 1
k 2  log 5 a = y-intercept ,
2x  log 5 a = 2
log 5 y = 2 
k i.e. a = 52
2x
 = 25 (D) 
i.e. y = 5 5 2 k

 a = 25 (D) 

30. A
log 3 t log 3 x
 = 1
5 4 [Alternative Method]
1 1
   log 3 k = y-intercept ,
log 3 t 5
 log 3 x 4
= 1
 log 3 k = –4
1 1
 
log 3 t 5
x 4
= 1 i.e. k = 3–4
1

1

1
= (A) 
t 5
x 4
= 3 81
1 1

4 5
x = 3t
4

i.e. x = 3 4 t 5

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1
 k = (A) 
81

31. C (43)
x log 3 y
 = 1 [Alternative Method]
2 4
log 3 y x  log 3 n = slope ,
= 1 4
4 2  log 3 n = = 2
2
log 3 y = 4 + 2x
i.e. n = 32
i.e. y = 34  32x = 81  9 x
= 9 (C) 
 n = 9 (C) 

32. B (56)
When x=0, y = a b0 = 3 .  a = 3 and note that 0 < b < 1 .
Now y = 3 bx ,
log 7 y = log 7 3 + x log 7 b .
So, slope = log 7 b < 0 and log 7 y-intercept = log 7 3 > 0 .  B is correct. 

33. A (30)
log 3 x log 3 y
 = 1
3 2
2 log 3 x + 3 log 3 y = 6
log 3 x2 y 3 = 6
i.e. x2 y 3 = 36 = 729 (A) 

34. D (40)
x log 9 y
 = 1 [Alternative Method]
4 2
log 9 y x  log 9 b = slope ,
= 1 1
2 4  log 9 b =
2
x
log 9 y = 2 i.e. b = 9½
2
x = 3 (D) 
2 1
i.e. y = 9 2
=  3x
81
 b = 3 (D) 

35. D (30)
log 4 y  2 62 1
= =
log 4 x  1 9 1 2
2 log 4 y  4 = log 4 x  1
log 4 y 2  log 4 x = 3

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y2
log 4 = 3
x
y2
= 43 = 64
x
y 2 = 64 x or y = 8 x ½
By comparing coefficients, k = 8 (D) 

36.  log 8 E = N = 6.4 ,

E = 86.4 ,
 M = log 4 86.4
= 9.6 
37. (a) 2  13 + 63 = 5  18
2  18 + 81 = 0
(  9)2 = 0
 = 9 and  = 27 
(b) Let a = log 9 = 2 log 3
a + d = log 27 = 3 log 3
 d = log 3
n
(2  2 log 3 + (n  1)log 3) > 888
2
(4 log 3)n + (log 3)n2  (log 3)n > 1776
(log 3)n2 + (3 log 3)n  1776 > 0
 n > 59.52928 or n < 62.52928
Hence, the least value of n = 60 

38. A
REMARK: the index = the number of zeros after the digit.
10100100010012 = 1  212 + 1  210 + 1  27 + 1  23 + 1  20
= 1  212 + 1  210 + 127 + 8 + 1
= 212 + 210 + 137 . (A) 

39. B
REMARK: B16 = 1110 , not 1210 !!
B000000002316 = 11  16 + 2  161 + 3  160
10

= 11  1610 + 35 . (B) 

40. A (64)
AD000000201216 = 10  1611 + 13  1610 + 2  163 + 1  161 + 2  160
= 10  1611 + 13  1610 + 8210 . (A) 
41. A (64)

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A00000E0001116 = 10  1611 + 14  165 + 1  161 + 1  160

= 10  1611 + 14  165 + 17 . (A) 

42. C (49)
7  210 + 28 + 5  23  23 = (4 + 2 + 1)  210 + 28 + 4  23
= 212 +211 +210 + 28 + 25
= 11101001000002 . (C) 

43. A (66)
11 + 26 + 210 + 211 = 211 + 210 + 26 + 8 + 2 + 1
= 211 + 210 + 26 + 23 + 21 + 1
= 1100010010112 . (A) 

44. A (43)
BC000DE00000016 = 11  1612 + 12  1611 + 13  167 + 14  166
= (11  16 + 12)  1611 + (13  16 + 14)  166
= 188  1611 + 222  166 . (A) 

45. D (50)
83 + 819 = (23)3 + (23)19 = 29 + 257
= 22  4 + 1 + 214  4 + 1 (note that 24 = 16)
= 162  2 + 1614  2 = 2  1614 + 2  162
= 20000000000020016 . (A) 

46. A(61)
Note that 10112 = 19
101102 = 22
 1001100000101102 = 19  210 + 22 (A) 

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