Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Definition of inverse function.
Find the domain of Exponential and Logarithmic function.
Use the properties of the exponential and logarithmic function.
Differentiate Exponential and Logarithmic functions.
Use logarithmic differentiation to derive a function.
INVERSE FUNCTIONS
Let f be a one-to-one function with a domain D and range R. Then the domain of the inverse function has
domain R and range D and is defined by:
f −1 ( y ) =x ⟺ f ( x )= y
Domain of f −1= range of f and range of f −1= domain of f .
1
Example: The inverse function of f ( x )=x 7is f −1 ( x )=x 7 because if y=x 7, then:
1
f −1 ( y ) =f −1 ( x 7 )=(x 7) 7 =x.
−1 1
Do not mistake the −1 in f −1for power. Thus, f ( x) is not equivalent to .
f (x )
1 −1
But could be written as [ f ( x ) ] .
f (x )
The graph of f −1 is obtained by reflecting the graph of f about the line y=x .
The Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
There’s a close relationship between a logarithmic function and an exponential function. We’ll see that the
logarithmic function and exponential functions are inverse functions.
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS: DOMAIN, PROPERTIES AND DIFFERENTIATION
The Natural Exponential Function
It is the inverse function of the Natural Logarithmic function.
The Natural Exponential Function defined in R with values in a range: ¿ 0 ;+ ∞¿.
y=e x and its inverse function.
Here is the graph of the exponential function
The curve y=e x crosses the y-axis with at (0,1), the reflected curve y=ln (x ) crosses the x-axis at the
point (1,0).
The inverse function of the natural logarithmic function f ( x )=ln (x )is called the natural exponential
−1 x
function and is denoted by: f ( x )=e .
The inverse relationship between the natural logarithmic function and the natural exponential function can be
presented as follows for any real number x: y=e x ⇔ x=lny .
Derivative of the natural exponential function
The characteristics of the natural exponential function is that it is its own derivative. The derivative of an
'
exponential function is ( e x ) =e x .
Using the chain rule a composite exponential function is presented as follows:
f ( x )=eu (x), thus, f ' ( x )=u' ( x ) . eu (x).
Logarithmic functions
It is the inverse of an exponential function. So, if x is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable
for the logarithmic function, then y is the independent variable and x is the dependent variable for the
corresponding exponential function.
' 1
The derivative of a logarithmic function is: ( lnx ) = .
x
Using the chain rule, we derive a composite logarithmic function as follows:¿.