Exponential growth is modeled by increasing functions of the form \(P(t)=P_0b^t\text{,}\) where the growth factor, \(b\text{,}\) is a number greater than 1.
If a principal of \(P\) dollars is invested in an account that pays an interest rate \(r\) compounded annually, the balance \(B\) after \(t\) years is given by
A percent increase of \(r\) (in decimal form) corresponds to a growth factor of \(b=1+r\text{.}\) A percent decrease of \(r\) corresponds to a decay factor of \(b=1-r\text{.}\)
The growth factor of an exponential function is analogous to the slope of a linear function: Each measures how quickly the function is increasing (or decreasing).
Suppose \(L(t)=a+mt\) is a linear function and \(E(t)=ab^t\) is an exponential function. For each unit that \(t\) increases, \(m\) units are added to the value of \(L(t)\text{,}\) whereas the value of \(E(t)\) is multiplied by \(b\text{.}\)
We do not allow the base of an exponential function to be negative, because if \(b \lt 0\text{,}\) then \(b^x\) is not a real number for some values of \(x\text{.}\)
The negative \(x\)-axis is a horizontal asymptote for exponential functions with \(b \gt 1\text{.}\) For exponential functions with \(0 \lt b \lt 1\text{,}\) the positive \(x\)-axis is an asymptote.
Exponential functions are not the same as the power functions we studied earlier. Although both involve expressions with exponents, it is the location of the variable that makes the difference.
Many exponential equations can be solved by writing both sides of the equation as powers with the same base. If two equivalent powers have the same base, then their exponents must be equal also (as long as the base is not 0 or \(\pm 1\)).
For \(b\gt 0, b\ne 1\text{,}\) the base \(b\) logarithm of \(x\), written \(\log_{(b)} x\text{,}\) is the exponent to which \(b\) must be raised in order to yield \(x\text{.}\)
We use logarithms to solve exponential equations, just as we use square roots to solve quadratic equations. The operation of taking a base \(b\) logarithm is the inverse of raising the base \(b\) to a power, just as extracting square roots is the inverse of squaring a number.
The number of computer science degrees awarded by Monroe College has increased by a factor of 1.5 every 5 years since 1984. If the college granted 8 degrees in 1984, how many did it award in 1994? In 2005?
The price of public transportation has been rising by 10% per year since 1975. If it cost $0.25 to ride the bus in 1975, how much did it cost in 1985? How much will it cost in the year 2030 if the current trend continues?
A certain medication is eliminated from the body at a rate of 15% per hour. If an initial dose of 100 milligrams is taken at 8 a.m., how much is left at 12 noon? At 6 p.m.?
After the World Series, sales of T-shirts and other baseball memorabilia decline 30% per week. If $200,000 worth of souvenirs were sold during the Series, how much will be sold 4 weeks later? After 6 weeks?
For Problems 35-38, write the expression in terms of simpler logarithms. (Assume that all variables and variable expressions denote positive real numbers.)