Pure 1 – A Level Maths

Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

Lesson Workbook
Edexcel Course

This unit covers:

Covered
Ex Topic R A G
Class HWK Rev.
14A Exponential Graphs
14B The exponential function 𝑒 𝑥
14C Exponential Modelling
14D Logarithms
14E Laws of Logs
14F Solving Equations with
unknown exponents
14G Natural Logarithms
14H Graphs for Exponential Data
Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

1: Exponential Graphs
You would have seen exponential functions before, mostly when calculating repeated
percentage change. If we consider the graph of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 (below) we can see that for every
one we go across to the right our value on the 𝑦-axis doubles.

Example 1
On the same axes sketch 𝑦 = 3𝑥 , 𝑦 = 2𝑥 and 𝑦 = 1.5𝑥 .

Example 2
1 𝑥
On the same axes sketch 𝑦 = 2𝑥 and 𝑦 = (2)

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Three important notes:

1 𝑥
• 𝑦 = 2𝑥 is said to be “exponential growing” whereas 𝑦 = (2) is said to be
“exponentially decaying”, because it’s getting smaller (halving) each time 𝑥 increases
by 1.
1 𝑥
• 𝑦 = (2) is a reflection of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 in the line 𝑥 = 0. Proof:
1 1 𝑥
If 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 , 𝑓(−𝑥) = 2−𝑥 = 2𝑥 = (2)

1 𝑥
• (2) would usually be written 2−𝑥 .
You should therefore in general be able to recognise and sketch the graph 𝑦 = 𝑎−𝑥 .

Example 3
Sketch 𝑦 = 2𝑥+3

2: The exponential function 𝒆𝒙

Let’s consider the following functions and their gradient functions.

𝑦 = 1𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 3𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
=0 = 0.69 × 2𝑥 = 1.10 × 3𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

What do you notice about the gradient function and the original function in each case?

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If we consider 𝑦 = 2.5𝑥 and 𝑦 = 3𝑥 we can see that they are similar to their respective
gradient functions. So is there a base between 2.5 and 3 where the function is equal to its
gradient function?
𝑒 = 2.71828 … is known as Euler’s Number.
It is one of the five most fundamental constants in mathematics (0, 1, 𝑖, 𝑒, 𝜋).
It has the property that:
𝑑𝑦
𝑦 = 𝑒𝑥 → = 𝑒𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Although any function of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥 is known as an exponential function, 𝑒 𝑥 is known
as “the” exponential function. You can find the exponential function on your calculator, to
the right (above the “ln” key)
𝑑𝑦
If we want to differentiate 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑒 𝑘𝑥 , where 𝑘 is a constant then we get 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑘𝑥 .

Example 4
Differentiate 𝑒 5𝑥 with respect to 𝑥.

Example 5
Differentiate 𝑒 −𝑥 with respect to 𝑥.

Example 6
Differentiate 4𝑒 3𝑥 with respect to 𝑥.

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We also need to be able to plot these graphs and apply the relevant graph transformations
to them.

Example 7
Sketch 𝑦 = 𝑒 3𝑥

Example 8
Sketch 𝑦 = 5𝑒 −𝑥

Example 9
1
Sketch 𝑦 = 2 + 𝑒 3𝑥

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Test Your Understanding

Sketch 𝑦 = 𝑒 −2𝑥 − 1

3: Exponential Modelling
There are two key features of exponential functions which make them suitable for
population growth:

1. 𝑎 𝑥 gets 𝑎 times bigger each time 𝑥 increases by 1. (Because 𝑎 𝑥+1 = 𝑎 × 𝑎 𝑥 )

With population growth, we typically have a fixed percentage increase each year. So
suppose the growth was 10% a year, and we used the equivalent decimal multiplier,
1.1, as 𝑎. Then 1.1𝑡 , where 𝑡 is the number of years, would get 1.1 times bigger each
year.
2. The rate of increase is proportional to the size of the population at a given moment.
This makes sense: The 10% increase of a population will be twice as large if the
population itself is twice as large.

Example 10
Suppose the population 𝑃 in The Republic of Maths is modelled by 𝑃 = 100𝑒 3𝑡 where 𝑡 is
the numbers years since The Republic was established.
a) What is the initial population?

b) What is the initial rate of population growth?

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Example 11
The density of a pesticide in a given section of field, 𝑃 mg/m2, can be modelled by the
equation 𝑃 = 160𝑒 −0.006𝑡
where 𝑡 is the time in days since the pesticide was first applied.
a) Use this model to estimate the density of pesticide after 15 days

b) Interpret the meaning of the value 160 in this model

𝑑𝑃
c) Show that 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑘𝑃, where 𝑘 is a constant, and state the value of 𝑘

d) Interpret the significance of the sign of your answer in part (c)

e) Sketch the graph of 𝑃 against 𝑡.

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Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

4: Logarithms
You know the inverse of many mathematical operations; we can undo an addition by 2 for
example by subtracting 2. But is there an inverse function for an exponential function?

log 𝑎 𝑛 (“said log base 𝑎 of 𝑛”) is equivalent to 𝑎 𝑥 = 𝑛. The log function outputs the missing
power.

There are two methods of interchanging between these forms. Pick your favourite!
Method 1: Missing Power Method 2: Do same operation to each side

log 2 8 = 3 log 2 8 = 3

Quick Examples
1
log 5 25 log 4 1 log 2 ( )
16

log 3 81 log 4 4 log 𝑎 𝑎3

log 2 32 log 2 (0.5) log 2 0

1
log10 1000 log 3 ( ) log 4 (−1)
27

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Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

There are three buttons on your calculator for computing logs:

log 3 7 = 1.77124 …
log □ □
log 5 0.3 = −0.74807 …

ln 10 = 2.30258 …
ln □
ln 𝑒 = 1

log □ log 100 = 2

𝑙𝑛 is the “natural log of 𝒙”, meaning “log to the base 𝑒”, i.e. it the inverse of 𝑒 𝑥 .
ln(𝑥) = log 𝑒 (𝑥)
2
Just like the √ symbol without a number is √□ by default, 𝑙𝑜𝑔 without a base is base 10 by
default when used on your calculator (although confusingly “𝑙𝑜𝑔” can mean “𝑙𝑛” in
mathematical papers)

5: Laws of Logs
We have laws of logarithms in a similar way to the rules of powers you have seen previously.
Three main laws:
log 𝑎 𝑥 + log 𝑎 𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥𝑦
𝑥
log 𝑎 𝑥 − log 𝑎 𝑦 = log 𝑎 ( )
𝑦
log 𝑎 (𝑥 𝑘 ) = 𝑘 log 𝑎 𝑥
The logs must have a consistent base.

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Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

Special cases:
log 𝑎 𝑎 = 1 (𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1)
log 𝑎 1 = 0 (𝑎 > 0, 𝑎 ≠ 1)
1
log ( ) = log(𝑥 −1 ) = − log(𝑥)
𝑥
We often try to avoid leaving fractions inside logs. So if the answer was:
1
log 2 ( )
3
You should write your answer as: − log 2 3. Reciprocating the input negates the output.
Not in syllabus (but in MAT/PAT):
log 𝑐 𝑏
log 𝑎 𝑏 =
log 𝑐 𝑎
This is known as changing the base. So to get log 2 9 in terms of log base 3:
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 9 2
𝑙𝑜𝑔2 9 = =
𝑙𝑜𝑔3 2 𝑙𝑜𝑔3 2

Example 12
Write as a single logarithm:
a. log 3 6 + log 3 7

b. Log 2 15 − log 2 3

c. 2 log 5 3 + 3 log 5 2

1
d. log10 3 − 4 log10 (2)

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Example 13
Write in terms of log 𝑎 𝑥, log 𝑎 𝑦 and log 𝑎 𝑧

a. log 𝑎 (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 )

𝑥
b. Log 𝑎 (𝑦 3 )

𝑥 √𝑦
c. log 𝑎 ( )
𝑧

𝑥
d. log 𝑎 (𝑎4 )

These are NOT LAWS OF LOGS, but are mistakes students often make:
log 𝑎 (𝑏 + 𝑐) = log 𝑎 𝑏 + log 𝑎 𝑐
There is no method to simplify the log of a sum, only the sum of two logs!
(log 2 𝑥)3 = 3 log 2 𝑥
The power must be on the input (here the 𝑥), but here the power is around the entire log.

Example 14
Solve the equation log10 4 + 2 log10 𝑥 = 2

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Test Your Understanding

Given that 2 log 2 (𝑥 + 15) − log 2 𝑥 = 6

a) Show that 𝑥 2 − 34𝑥 + 225 = 0

b) Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation 2 log 2 (𝑥 + 15) − log 2 𝑥 = 6

6: Solving Equations with Unknown Exponents

Example 15
Solve 3𝑥 = 20

Example 16
Solve 54𝑥−1 = 61

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Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

In order to be able to tackle these questions it is easier if the exponential terms have the
same base. If they do not we have to use another approach to solve.

Example 17
Solve 3𝑥 = 2𝑥+1

Test Your Understanding

1) Solve 32𝑥−1 = 5, giving your answer to 3dp.

2) Solve 3𝑥+1 = 4𝑥−1 , giving your answer to 3dp.

3) Solve 2𝑥 3𝑥+1 = 5, giving your answer in exact form.

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Pure 1 Chapter 14 – Exponentials and Logarithms

7: Natural Logarithms
We have previously seen that 𝑦 = log 𝑎 𝑥 is the inverse function of 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥 . We also saw that
𝑒 𝑥 is “the” exponential function. The inverse of 𝑒 𝑥 is log 𝑒 𝑥, but because of its special
importance, it has its own function name!
ln 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝒙

𝑒 ln 𝑥 = 𝒙

Example 18
Solve 𝑒 𝑥 = 5

Example 19
Solve 2 ln 𝑥 + 1 = 5

In previous chapters we’ve already dealt with quadratics in disguise, e.g. “quadratic in sin”.
We therefore just apply our usual approach: either make a suitable substitution so the
equation is then quadratic, or (strongly recommended!) go straight for the factorisation.

Example 20
Solve 𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝑒 𝑥 − 15 = 0

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Example 21
Solve 𝑒 𝑥 − 2𝑒 −𝑥 = 1

Test Your Understanding

1) Solve ln(3𝑥 + 1) = 2

2) Solve 𝑒 2𝑥 + 5𝑒 𝑥 = 6

3) Solve 2𝑥 𝑒 𝑥+1 = 3 giving your answer as an exact value.

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8: Graphs for Exponential Data

In Science and Economics, experimental data often has exponential growth, e.g. bacteria in
a sample, rabbit populations, energy produced by earthquakes, my Twitter followers over
time, etc.
Because exponential functions increase rapidly, it tends to look a bit rubbish if we tried to
draw a suitable graph:
Take for example “Moore’s Law”, which hypothesised that the processing power of
computers would double every 2 years. Suppose we tried to plot this for computers we
sampled over time:
If we tried to force all the data onto the graph, we
would end up making most of the data close to the
horizontal axis. This is not ideal.
But suppose we took the log of the number of
transistors for each computer. Suppose the number of
transistors one year was 𝑦, then doubled 2 years later
to get 2𝑦.
When we log (base 2) these:
𝑦 → log 2 𝑦
2𝑦 → log 2 (2𝑦)
= log 2 2 + log 2 𝑦
= 1 + log 2 𝑦
The logged value only increased by 1! Thus taking the
log of the values turns exponential growth into linear
growth (because each time we would have doubled,
we’re now just adding 1), and the resulting graph is a
straight line.

Because the energy involved in earthquakes decreases

exponentially from the epicentre of the earthquake, such
energy values recorded from different earthquakes would
vary wildly.
The Richter Scale is a logarithmic scale, and takes the log
(base 10) of the amplitude of the waves, giving a more even
spread of values in a more sensible range.
(The largest recorded value on the Richter Scale is 9.5 in
Chile in 1960, and 15 would destroy the Earth completely –
evil scientists take note)
Figure 1: Richter Scale

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The result is that an earthquake just 1 greater on the Richter scale would in fact be 10 times
as powerful.
We would also have similar graphing problems if we tried to
plot data that followed some polynomial function such as a
quadratic or cubic.
We will therefore look at the process to convert a polynomial
graph into a linear one, as well as a exponential graph into a
linear one…

If we need to turn non-linear graphs into linear graphs we have the following two cases.

Case 1: Polynomial → Linear Case 2: Exponential → Linear

Suppose our original model was a Suppose our original model was an
polynomial one*: exponential one:
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥
Then taking logs of both sides: Then taking logs of both sides:
log 𝑦 = log 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 log 𝑦 = log 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 log 𝑦 = log 𝑎 + 𝑥 log 𝑏
log 𝑦 = log 𝑎 + 𝑛 log 𝑥 Again we can compare this against a
We can compare this against a straight line: straight line:
𝑌 = 𝑚𝑋 + 𝑐 𝑌 = 𝑚𝑋 + 𝑐

If 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑛 , then the graph of log 𝑦 against If 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑥 , then the graph of log 𝑦 against
log 𝑥 will be a straight line wih gradient 𝑛 𝑥 will be a straight line with gradient log 𝑏
and vertical intercept log 𝑎. and vertical intercept log 𝑎.

We could also allow non-integer 𝑛; the The key difference compared to Case 1 is
term would then not strictly be polynomial, that we’re only logging the 𝑦 values (e.g.
but we’d still say the function had number of transistors), not the 𝑥 values
“polynomial growth”. (e.g. years elapsed). Note that you do not
need to memorise the contents of these
boxes and we will work out from scratch
each time…

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Example 22
The graph represents the growth of a population of bacteria, 𝑃, over 𝑡 hours. The graph has
a gradient of 0.6 and meets the vertical axis at (0,2) as shown.
A scientist suggest that this growth can be modelled by the equation 𝑃 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡 , where 𝑎 and
𝑏 are constants to be found.
a. Write down an equation for the line.

b. Using your answer to part (a) or otherwise, find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏, giving them to
3 sf where necessary.

c. Interpret the meaning of the constant 𝑎 in this model.

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Example 23
The table below gives the rank (by size) and population of the UK’s largest cities and districts
(London is number 1 but has been excluded as an outlier).

City B’ham Leeds Glasgow Sheffield Bradford

Rank, 𝑹 2 3 4 5 6
Population, 𝑷 1 000 000 730 000 620 000 530 000 480 000

The relationship between the rank and population can be modelled by the formula:
𝑅 = 𝑎𝑃𝑛 where 𝑎 and 𝑛 are constants.
a) Draw a table giving values of log 𝑅 and log 𝑃 to 2dp.

b) Plot a graph of log 𝑅 against log 𝑃 using the values from your table and draw the line
of best fit.

c) Use your graph to estimate the values of 𝑎 and 𝑛 to two significant figures.

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Test Your Understanding

Dr Frost wants to predict his number of Twitter followers 𝑃 (@DrFrostMaths) 𝑡 years from
the start 2015. He predicts that his followers will increase exponentially according to the
model 𝑃 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡 , where 𝑎, 𝑏 are constants that he wishes to find.
He records his followers at certain times. Here is the data:

Years 𝒕 after 2015 0.7 1.3 2.2

Followers 𝑷 2353 3673 7162
a) Draw a table giving values of 𝑡 and log 𝑃 (to 3dp).

b) A line of best fit is drawn for the data in your new table, and it happens to go
through the first data point above (where 𝑡 = 0.7) and last (where 𝑡 = 2.2).
Determine the equation of this line of best fit. (The 𝑦-intercept is 3.147)

c) Hence, determine the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏 in the model.

d) Estimate how many followers Dr Frost will have at the start of 2020 (when 𝑡 = 5).

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Reflections: Consider what we’re doing in this whole process in case you don’t understand
why we’re doing all of this:
1. We want to find the parameters of a model, e.g. 𝑃 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡 that best fits the data (in
this case the parameters we want to find are 𝑎 and 𝑏).
2. If the data had a linear trend, then this would be easy! We know from KS3 that we’d
just plot the data, find the line of best fit, then use the gradient and 𝑦-intercept to
work out the 𝑚 and 𝑐 in our linear model.
3. But the original data wasn’t linear, and it would be harder to draw an ‘exponential
curve of best fit’.
4. We therefore log the model so that the plotted data then roughly forms a straight
line, and then we can then draw a (straight) line of best fit.
5. The gradient and 𝑦-intercept of this line then allows us to estimate the parameters 𝑎
and 𝑏 in the original model that best fit the data.
The process of finding parameters in a model, that best fits the data, is known as regression.

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