Exponential Models

Initial Example:
The temperature, T, of a cup of tea is modeled by the
−x
function T(x) = 21 + 55(1.9) , where T is measured
∘
in C and x in minutes.

•How long will the tea stay warm?

•What information do you need to know?

∘
• Will the temperature of the tea ever reach 0 C

•Can you nd out the temperature at di erent times?

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Investigation:
1. Using technology sketch the following functions:

x x x
(a) f(x) = 2 (b) f(x) = 1.5 (c) f(x) = 0.5

x x
(d) f(x) = 0.3 (e) f(x) = e

In part (e), e is a special number that we will discuss shortly

2. Sort the functions in two groups, decreasing and increasing.

x
3. For the function f(x) = e , what value of x gives f(x) = e? Use this ti nd the
value of e from your graph.

These are all examples of exponential functions.

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Exponential Function:
An exponential function has a number, called the base, raised to a power.
The independent (or input) variable is the power.

The general equation is of the form

x
f(x) = ka + c, a > 0, k ≠ 0
Investigation:
Fill in the following table (using technology) to nd the gradients of the lines that are
tangents to the given curves at the given points. Recall that the gradient of the tangent
gives the rate of change of a function
x x x
y=2 y=e y=3
y Rate y Rate y Rate
x=1

x=2
x=3
x=4

•How does the value of the base in an exponential function a ect the rate of change?

• What is special about the number e in this context?

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Exponential Function:
An exponential function has a number, called the base, raised to a power.
The independent (or input) variable is the power.

The general equation is of the form

x
f(x) = ka + c, a > 0, k ≠ 0
Exponential Function, Activity:
Consider the general equation of an exponential function

x
f(x) = ka + c, a > 0, k ≠ 0

Sketch the following functions and complete the table:

Increasing or
Value of k Value of a Value of c y-intercept Equation of asymptote decreasing

x
a 1 3 0 (0,1) y=0 Increasing (a) f(x) = 3
x
b (b) f(x) = 0.5
x
c (c) f(x) = 2 + 3
x
d (a) f(x) = 0.4 − 2
x
e (a) f(x) = 2(3 ) + 1
x
f 4 2 -5 (0,-1) y=-5 Increasing (a) f(x) = 4(2 ) − 5
x
g (a) f(x) = 3(0.5 ) − 2
Exponential Function, Activity:
Consider the general equation of an exponential function

x
f(x) = ka + c, a > 0, k ≠ 0

Sketch the following functions and complete the table:

Increasing or
Value of k Value of a Value of c y-intercept Equation of asymptote decreasing

x
a 1 3 0 (0,1) y=0 Increasing (a) f(x) = 3
x
b 1 0.5 0 (0,1) y=0 Decreasing (b) f(x) = 0.5
x
c 1 2 3 (0,4) y=3 Increasing (c) f(x) = 2 + 3
x
d 1 0.4 -2 (0,-1) y=-2 Decreasing (a) f(x) = 0.4 − 2
x
e 2 3 1 (0,3) y=1 Increasing (a) f(x) = 2(3 ) + 1
x
f 4 2 -5 (0,-1) y=-5 Increasing (a) f(x) = 4(2 ) − 5
x
g 3 0.5 -2 (0,1) y=-2 Decreasing (a) f(x) = 3(0.5 ) − 2
Exponential Function, Activity:

• What is the connection between the value of c

y = 2x + 3 and the equation of the horizontal asymptote?

x
y = 2(3 ) + 1 • What is the connection between the values for
y = 0.5 x k and c and the coordinates of the y-intercept?

y = 3x
x
y = 3(0.5 ) − 2 • What is the connection between the value for a
and whether the function is increasing for
x
y = 0.4 − 2 decreasing?

x
y = 4(2 ) − 5

x
The function f(x) = ka + c has the horizontal asymptote y = c and crosses
the y-axis at the point (0,k + c).
Exponential Function, Activity:

y = 2x + 3 • Describe how can you decide which variable is

independent and which is dependent.

x
y = 2(3 ) + 1 • What does the horizontal asymptote represent?
x
y = 0.5
y = 3x How can you decide if a function has a
x
y = 3(0.5 ) − 2 horizontal asymptote?

x
y = 0.4 − 2 • What are the parameters of an exponential
function?
x
y = 4(2 ) − 5

x
The function f(x) = ka + c has the horizontal asymptote y = c and crosses
the y-axis at the point (0,k + c).
Exponential Function, Activity:

−x
• Now sketch the function f(x) = 3 and
compare it with your sketch for part a

• Explain the di erence between growth and

decay

x −x
y=3 y=3

x
The function f(x) = ka + c has the horizontal asymptote y = c and crosses
the y-axis at the point (0,k + c).
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 Exponential Functions
In a controlled experiment, the temperature
∘
T( C) of a liquid, thours after the start of the
0.4t
experiment, is T = 25 + e , 0 ≤ t ≤ 12.

(a) sketch the graph of the temperature T for

0 ≤ t ≤ 12

(b) State the temperature halfway through the

∘
experiment, to the nearest 0.1 C

(c) Find the time at which the temperature of

∘
the liquid reaches 100 C. Give your
answer in hours and minutes, to the
nearest minute.
 Exponential Functions
In a research laboratory, biologists studied the
growth of a culture of bacteria. From the data
collected hourly, they concluded that the culture
increases in number according to the following
formula

t
N(t) = 35 × 1.85

where N is the number of bacteria present and t is

the number of hours since the experiment began.

Use the model to calculate:

(a) The number of bacteria present at the start of

the experiment

(b) The number present after 4 hours (correct to the

nearest whole number)

(c) The time it would take for the bacteria to exceed

1000

(d) Due to lack of nutrients, the culture cannot

exceed 1000 bacteria. State the domain of
validity of the model
 Exponential Functions
In a research laboratory, biologists studied the Thee population of a large city was 5.5 million in the
growth of a culture of bacteria. From the data year 2000. Assume that the population of the city
collected hourly, they concluded that the culture can be modeled by the function

increases in number according to the following

t
formula
P(t) = 5.5 × 1.0225

t
N(t) = 35 × 1.85
where P(t) is the population in millions and t is the
number of years after 2000.

where N is the number of bacteria present and t is

the number of hours since the experiment began.
(a) Calculate and estimate the city’s population in
2010 and 2018

Use the model to calculate:

(b) In what year does the population of the city

(a) The number of bacteria present at the start of become double that in 2000?

the experiment

The population of another city can be modeled as:

(b) The number present after 4 hours (correct to the t
nearest whole number)

P(t) = 6.05 × 1.01

(c) The time it would take for the bacteria to exceed where t is the number of years after thee year 2000.

1000
(c) In which year will the two cities have the same
(d) Due to lack of nutrients, the culture cannot population?
exceed 1000 bacteria. State the domain of
validity of the model
 Exponential Functions
Thee population of a large city was 5.5 million in the
year 2000. Assume that the population of the city
can be modeled by the function

P(t) = 5.5 × 1.0225t

where P(t) is the population in millions and t is the

number of years after 2000.

(a) Calculate and estimate the city’s population in

2010 and 2018

(b) In what year does the population of the city

become double that in 2000?

The population of another city can be modeled as:

t
P(t) = 6.05 × 1.01

where t is the number of years after thee year 2000.

(c) In which year will the two cities have the same
population?
 Exponential Functions
(1)
A large city is concerned about pollution and decides to look at the number of people using taxis.

At the end of the year 2010, there were 50 thousands taxi in the city. At the end of the nth year after 2010, the
n−1
number of taxis is given by 50 × 1.1

(a) Find the number of taxis in the city at the end of 2015.

(b) Assuming that the model remains valid, nd the year in which the number of taxis is double than thee number
of taxis at the end of 2010.

At the end of 2010 there were 2 million people in the city who used taxis. n years later, the number of people Pn
n−1
who use taxis is given by Pn = 2 × 1.01

(c) Assuming that this model remains valid, nd the value of P at the end of 2020, giving your answer to the nearest
thousand.

Let R be the ratio of the number of people using taxis to the number of taxis. At the end of 2010, R was 43.6 : 1

(d) Find the ratio R at thee end of 2015 and 2020.

(e) Comment on the values found in the previous question.

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 Exponential Functions
(2)
∘ −x
The temperature T( C), of a cup of soup can be modeled by the equation T(x) = 21 + 74 × 1.2 , where x is the
time in minutes.

(a) Find the initial temperature

(b) Find the temperature after 10 minutes

(c) Find how many minutes it takes for the soup to reach 40∘ C

(d) Write down the room temperature

 Compound Interest
In general, if you invest a present value of PV, the rate is r% compounded annually, and the number of years is n,
then the future value (FV) is found by the following formula:

( 100 )
n
r
FV = PV 1 +

The compound period is the time period between interest payments. For example, for interest
compounded quarterly the compound period its three months.

If PV is the present value, FV the future value, r the interest rate, n the number of years and k the compounded
frequency, or number of times interest is paid in a year (i.e. k = 1 for yearly, k = 2 for half-yearly, k = 4 for
quarterly and k = 12 for monthly), then the general formula for nding the future value is:

( k × 100 )
k×n
r
FV = PV 1 +
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 Compound Interest
Mr Chen invests CNY 20000 (Chinese yuan) in a bank that o ers interest at a rate of 3.8% per annum
compounded quarterly. Mrs Chang also invests CNY 20000 in a bank that o ers interest at a rate of
3.9% per annum compounded yearly.

Calculate who has earned more interest after ve years.

Colin, Ryan and Kyle each have 1500 euros to invest. Colin invests his money in a bank that o ers
2.6% interest compounded quarterly. Ryan invests his money in a bank that o ers 2.55% interest
compounded monthly. Kyle invests his money in a bank that o ers 2.75% interest compounded
annually.

(a) Calculate who has the most money in their account after six years

(b) Find how long it will take before Ryan has 2500 euros

(c) Find how long it will take for Kyle to double his money
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 In ation
In ation measures the rate that prices for goods increase over time and, as a result, how much less
your money can buy.

An in ation adjustment is the change in the price of an article that is a direct result of in ation.

The in ation rate of a country was calculated as 4.48% per annum.

(a) Given that the same rate continues for the next ve years, workout the percentage increase due
to in ation at the end of ve years.

(b) A computer game costs USD $35 today. Calculate what would you expect it to cost next years
due to an in ation adjustment.
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