Course: Diploma in Biomedical Engineering

Diploma in Aeronautical & Aerospace Technology

Diploma in Aerospace Systems & Management
Diploma in Nanotechnology & Materials Science
Diploma in Engineering with Business
Diploma in Robotics & Mechatronics
Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering
Diploma in Infocomm & Media Engineering
Diploma in Advanced & Digital Manufacturing
Diploma in AI & Data Engineering
Common Engineering Programme

Course Code: EGDF09 / 11 / 12 / 13 /17 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / PA/ 94

Module Code: EGH150, EGF150, EGK150, EGJ150, EGM150, EGR150,

EGE150, EGL150, EGD150, EGT150, EGC150

Module: Algebra

Week 7: Common Engineering Functions

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1. identify the various types of functions,

2. find the domain and range of a function,

3. use functional notations to manipulate, combine and evaluate composite functions,

4. solve some application problems &

5. sketch the given engineering functions.

 Engineering Functions

Introduction

Many of the functions we have studied so far have included exponents. But in every case,
the exponent was a constant and the base was often a variable. In this section, we will reverse
those roles. In an exponential function, the variable appears in an exponent. As we will see,
this has a significant effect on the properties and graphs of these functions.

1 Exponential & Logarithmic Functions

Exponential Function

Let’s start by noting that the function f and g given by

f ( x ) = 2 x and g ( x ) = x 2

are not the same function. Whether a variable appears as an exponent with a constant base
or a base with a constant exponent makes a big difference. The function g is a quadratic
function, which we have already discussed. The function f is an exponential function. The
graphs of f and g are shown in Figure 1 below. As expected, they are very different.

g ( x ) = x2

f ( x ) = 2x

Figure 1

Definition of Exponential Function

The equation
f ( x ) = a x where a > 0 , a ≠ 1
defines an exponential function for each different constant a, called the base. The
independent variable x can assume any real value.

The domain of f ( x ) is the set of all real numbers, and it can be shown that that the range
of f ( x ) is the set of all positive real numbers.

2
 Engineering Functions

Graph of exponential function

f 2 ( x ) = 3x

f3 ( x ) = 5 x f1 ( x ) = 2 x

Figure 2
The graph of f ( x ) = a for a = 2,3 and 5 are shown in Figure 2 above. Note that all three
x

have the same basic shape, and pass through the point (0,1). Also, the x axis is a horizontal
asymptote for each graph, but only as x → -∞. The main difference between the graphs is
their steepness.

x
1
f3 ( x ) =  
5

x
1
f1 ( x ) =  
2 x
1
f2 ( x ) =  
3

Figure 3
1 1 1
Next, let’s look at the graph of f ( x ) = a x for a = , and as shown in the Figure 3
2 3 5
above. Again, all three have the same basic shape, pass through (0,1) and have horizontal
asymptote f ( x ) = 0 , but we can see that for a < 1 , the asymptote is only as x → ∞.

The graphs in Figure 2 and 3 suggest that the graphs of exponential functions have the
following characteristics listed below.
(i) The function value increases as x increases for the base a greater than 1.
(ii) The function value decreases as x increases for the base a between 0 and 1.
(iii) The exponential graphs f ( x ) = a x will always pass through the point ( 0, 1) .
(iv) The graphs do not have x-intercept i.e. the x-axis or f ( x ) = 0 line is an asymptote.
The graph exist only for f (x) > 0.

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 Engineering Functions

The Exponential Function with Base e

In many applications, the most convenient choice for a base is the irrational number

e ≈ 2.7108281828…..

This number is called the natural base. The function given by f ( x ) = e x is called the
natural exponential function. Be sure you see that for exponential function f ( x ) = e x , e
is the constant 2.718281828…… whereas x is the variable.

The graphs of f ( x ) = e x and f ( x ) = e − x are shown below.

f ( x) = ex
f ( x) = e −x

Observe that the graph of f ( x ) = e − x is obtained when f ( x ) = e x is reflected in the

f ( x ) - axis. When x = 0 , both f ( x ) = e x and f ( x ) = e− x are equal to 1.

Example 1
Given the graph of f ( x ) = e x , on the same set of axes, sketch the graphs of the following
functions.
(a) f1 ( x ) = 3e x (b) f 2 ( x=
) ex +1 (c) f3 ( x ) = −2e− x (d) f 4 ( x ) = −e− x

f1 ( x ) = 3e x

f 2 ( x=
) ex +1

f 4 ( x ) = −e − x
f3 ( x ) = −2e − x

4
 Engineering Functions

Logarithmic Functions
The logarithmic functions are defined by f ( x ) = log a x , for x > 0 where a > 0 is called
the base.

The two bases commonly used are base 10 and base e, as shown below:
Base, a Name Logarithmic Functions
10 Common logarithm = y log
=10 x log x
e Natural logarithm =y log
= e x ln x

Graph of logarithm function

We shall now create a table of values to plot the graph of function f ( x ) = ln x :
x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
ln x 0 0.693 1.099 1.386 1.609 1.792 1.946 2.079
Connect these points and the curve is drawn:
The graph of f ( x ) = ln x passes

y = ex through the point (1, 0 ) . It does not have

y=x
y-intercept i.e. the x = 0 line is an
asymptote and exists only for x > 0 . As
x → 0, ln x → −∞ .
f ( x ) = ln x Its domain is { x > 0} and range is
{all real number} .
The graph of f ( x ) = ln x is the
reflection of g ( x ) = e x along the line
f ( x ) = x when sketched on the same
axes.

The graphs of f ( x ) = log x , f ( x ) = ln x ,

f ( x ) = 2 ln x f ( x ) = 2ln x and f ( x ) = − ln x all pass

through the point (1, 0 ) . All take the same
f ( x ) = ln x shape, except for the steepness of the curves.
f ( x ) = log x .

f ( x ) = − ln x

5
 Engineering Functions

Logarithmic-Exponential Relationships
Logarithm functions can be expressed in exponential notation, and vice-versa, as follows:
= is equivalent to x 10 y
log x y=
= is equivalent to x e y
ln x y=
Example 2
Express the following in according format by filling in the blanks.
Logarithmic form Exponential form
log 6 216 = 3 63 = 216
log 5 0.04 = −2 5−2 = 0.04
1 1
log 7 = −2 7 −2 =
49 49
3 3
log 9 27 = 9 2 = 27
2
log m 1 = 0 m0 = 1

Properties of Logarithms
Suppose p is a real number, a, b, m and n are positive, and a ≠ 1, b ≠ 1 . The 7 properties of
logarithms are:

(a) log
= b mn log b m + log b n [Product Law of Logarithms]

The product law of Logarithms states the property that the logarithm of the product of
two numbers is equal to the sum of the logarithms of the numbers.
= log 4 ( 3 × 5=
For example, log 4 15 ) log 4 3 + log 4 5
m
(b) log
= b log b m − log b n [Quotient Law of Logarithms]
n
The quotient law of logarithms states the property that the logarithm of the quotient of
two numbers is equal to the logarithm of the numerator minus the logarithm of the
denominator.
5
For example, log 4=
  log 4 5 − log 4 3
3

(c) log b m p = p log b m [Power Law of Logarithms]

The power law of logarithms states that the logarithm of the pth power of a number is
equal to p times the logarithm of the number. The exponent p may be any real number,
which, of course, includes all rational and irrational numbers.

( )
For example, log 4 t 2 = 2 log 4 t

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 Engineering Functions

log b m
(d) log a m = [Change-of-Base Law]
log b a

The equation (d) allows us to change a logarithm in one base to a logarithm in another
base.
(e) log b 1 = 0 (f) log b b = 1 (g) log b b n = n
We may also express a sum or difference of logarithms as the logarithms of a single quantity.

Example 3
(a) log8 2 + log=
85 5 ) log8 10
log8 ( 2 ×=

8
(b) ln 8 − ln 2= ln  =
 ln 4
2
Example 4
Use the power law to rewrite each of the following:
( )
(a) log 2 165 = 5log
= 2 16 5log
= 22
4
( 5 x 4=
) log 2 2 20

5 2 ( 43 )
(b) 2 log 5 + 3log 4 − 4 log 2 =
log = log100
= 2 log10 = 2
24

Finding logs with a Calculator

We can apply Change-of-Base Law to calculate logarithm functions of bases other than base
10 and e.

Example 5
Use the Change-of-base law to calculate each of the following:
ln 216 log 216
(a) log=
6 216 = 3 or = 3
ln 6 log 6

(b) log 9 6561 = 4

Practice 1

(a) log 3 + log 7 =

(b) log 8 x 2 − log 2 x =

(c) log1003.4 =

(d) log 3 25 =

1
(e) log 1 =
7 49

(f) log8 691.45

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 Engineering Functions

Solving Equations involving Exponential and Logarithm functions

Example 6
Solve the following equations.
(a) 2 x = 64 (b) log ( 2 x − 5 ) + 1 =log 3x
Solution:

2x − 5
(b) log = −1
(a ) 2 x = 64 3x
2x − 5
2 x = 26 = 10−1
3x
x=6
50
x=
17

Example 7
A cup of hot tea was left to cool on a table so that t minutes later, its temperature is T °C , is
t
given by T= 50 + 46 ( 0.63) . Find the following:
(a) its initial temperature.
(b) its temperature after 300 seconds.
(c) the time, to the nearest minute, when its temperature is 70°C .

Solution:

0
(a ) When t = 50 + 46 ( 0.63) =
0, T = 96°C
5
(b) When t =5, T =50 + 46 ( 0.63) ≈ 54.6°C
t
(c) = 50 + 46 ( 0.63)
When T= 70, 70
70 − 50
ln
=t 46 ≈ 1.80 ≈ 2 min
ln 0.63

Practice 2

(a) 32 x +1 = 94 x −1 (b) ln x = 4

8
 Engineering Functions

TUTORIAL 7

1 Exponential & Logarithmic Functions

1. Sketch the graphs of the following functions.

(a) y = 4
x
(b) y = 3
−x
(c) y = 1.5
x
(d) y = 0.25
x

( 3)
x
(f) y = 2e
x
(e) y =

2. The value V of a bank account in which $250 is invested at 5.00% interest,

compounded annually, is V = 250 (1.0500 ) , where t is the time in years. Find the
t

value of the account after 4 years.

The number of a certain type of bacteria is given by the equation Q = Q0 2 , where

t
3.
Q0 is the initial number of bacteria (that is, the number of bacteria when t = 0 ) and
t is the time in hours since the initial count was taken.
(a) If Q = 200, 000 when t = 2.3 , find Q0 .
(b) Find the number of bacteria present at the end of 4 hours.
(c) How long does it take for Q to become twice as large as Q0 ?
(d) How long does it take for Q to become eight times as large as Q0 ?

4. Use a calculator to evaluate each of these logarithms.

(a) ln 5 (b) log12.67 (c) log 5 8 (d) log 3 20

5. If log b 2 = 0.3869 , log b 3 = 0.6131 and log b 5 = 0.8982 , determine the value of
each logarithm.
5 24
(a) log b 16 (b) log b 15 (c) log b (d) log b
3 5
6. Determine the value of the unknown.
1
(a) 2 x = 16 (b) 3x = (c) 5 x = 0.3
81
(d) e = 17.54
−x
(e) 6 = 78
x+1
(f) 5 x−1 = 0.07
(g) 3 (14 ) = 400
x
(h) 34 x +1 = 93 x −5 (i) e3 x −1 = 5e 2 x
(j) log x = 2.3 (k) ln ( x − 5 ) =
17 (l) log 2 x + log x =
9
(m) 2ln x = ln 4 (n) log ( x + 2 ) − log x =
1 (o) ln x = 1 + 3ln x

7. The value, V dollars, of a mobile phone in t months’ time is modelled by the equation
V = V0 e − kt , where k is a constant and V0 is the original value of the phone. After 15
months, the value of the phone is half its original value.
(a) Find the value of k.
(b) It is given that V = 530 when t = 6 .
(i) Find the value of V0 .
(ii) Find the time t if V = 200 .

9
 Engineering Functions

Suggested Answer:

2. $303.88

3. (a) 40,613 (b) 649,808 (c) 1hr (d) 3hr

4. (a) 1.61 (b) 1.10 (c) 1.29 (d) 2.73

5. (a) 1.55 (b) 1.51 (c) 0.285 (d) 0.876

6. (a) 4 (b) −4 (c) −0.748 (d) −2.86 (e) 1.43 (f) −0.652
109
(g) 1.85 (h) 5.5 (i) 2.61 (j) 200 (k) e17 + 5 (l)
2
2
(m) 2 (n) (o) 0.607
9
7. (a) 0.0462 (b) (i) 699 (ii) 27.1

10