1

ALGEBRA yearly/annual quarterly

𝑟 1(𝑡) 𝑟 4(𝑡)
T = (1 + 1
) T = (1 + 4
)

semiannually T = (1 +
𝑟 2(𝑡)
) daily T=
‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎STEP FUNCTIONS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎
2
(1 +
𝑟
365
)
365(𝑡)

-​ a mathematical function of a single real variable that

remains constant within each of a series of adjacent monthly 𝑟 12(𝑡)
T = (1 + )
intervals but changes in value from one interval to the 12

next
Continuously Compounded Interest
𝑟𝑡
A(t) = 𝑃𝑒
-​ A(t) = amount after t years
-​ P = principal
‎‎‎‎ ‎EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎
-​ r = interest rate per year
-​ with base a is defined for all real numbers x by -​ t = number of years
-​ is a one-to-one function by the horizontal line test
𝑥
f(x) = 𝑎 where a>0 and a≠1 ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎ ‎LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎
−1
-​ the inverse function 𝑓 of exponential function and
‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎THE NUMBER e ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ defined by:
−1
-​
𝑛
The value that (1 + 1/𝑛) approaches as n becomes 𝑓 (x) = y ⇔ f(y) = x​
large
Definition of the Logarithmic Function
-​ let a be a positive number w/ a≠1. The logarithmic
n 𝑛
(1 + 1/𝑛) function w/ base a, denoted by 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎, is defined by
𝑥
1 2.0000 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥 = y ⇔ 𝑎 = y
5 2.48832
10 2.5374

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎APPLICATIONS OF EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎

Population Growth
𝑟𝑡
P(t) = 𝑃𝑖𝑒
-​ 𝑃𝑖 = initial population
-​ r = growth rate
-​ t = time
‎‎ PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS‎‎ ‎
Radioactive Decay (Half-life Formula)
−𝑘𝑡
A = 𝐴𝑖𝑒 Property Reason

-​ 𝐴𝑖 = initial amount 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 1 = 0 We must raise a to the power of 0 to get 1

-​ k = decay constant
-​ t = time 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑎 = 1 We must raise a to the power of 1 to get a

Compound Interest 𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑎 = 𝑥 We must raise a to the power of x to get 𝑎
𝑥

𝑟 𝑛𝑡
A(t) = 𝑃(1 + 𝑛
)
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑥 is the power to which a must be raised to
-​ A(t) = amount after t years 𝑎 =𝑥
get x
-​ P = principal
-​ r = interest rate per year
-​ n = number of times interest is compounded per year TRANSFORMATIONS OF LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS ‎‎
-​ t = number of years General form: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑔 (𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘
𝑏
★​ a = vertical stretch or compression
○​ if |a|>1, stretched (steeper)
○​ if 0<|a|<1, compressed (flatter)
○​ if a<0, reflection over x-axis

★​ k = vertical shift
○​ 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏𝑥 + 𝑘
2
○​ if k is (+) or k>0, shifts upward -​ some exponential equations can be solved by using the
○​ if k is (-) or k<0, shifts downward fact that exponential functions are one-to-one – this
𝑥 𝑦
means that: 𝑎 =𝑎 ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝑦
★​ h = horizontal shift
○​ 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏(𝑥 − ℎ)
GUIDELINES FOR SOLVING EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
○​ if h is (+) or h>0, shifts to the right 1.​ Isolate the exponential expression on one side of the
○​ if h is (-) or h<0, shifts to the left equation
2.​ Take the logarithm of each side, the use the Laws of
★​ Reflection Logarithms to “bring down the exponent.”
○​ 𝑦 = − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏𝑥, over the x-axis 3.​ Solve for the variable.
○​ 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏(− 𝑥), over the y-axis

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎COMMON LOGARITHMS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎

-​ logarithm w/ base 10 & is denoted by omitting the base:
𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑥10

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎NATURAL LOGARITHMS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎
-​ the inverse of the natural exponential function (𝑦 = 𝑒 )
𝑥 -​ is one in which a logarithm of the variable occurs
-​ logarithm w/ base e & is denoted by ln: -​ some exponential equations can be solved by using the
fact that exponential functions are one-to-one – this
𝑙𝑛 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑥
means that: 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑦 ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝑦
By the definition of inverse functions we have:
𝑦
𝑙𝑛 𝑥 = 𝑦 ⇔ 𝑒 = 𝑥 GUIDELINES FOR SOLVING EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1.​ Isolate the logarithmic term on one side of the
equation; you might first need to combine the
‎ PROPERTIES OF NATURAL LOGARITHMS ‎‎
logarithmic terms.
2.​ Write the equation in exponential form (or raise the
Property Reason base to each side of the equation).
3.​ Solve for the variable.
𝑙𝑛 1 = 0 We must raise e to the power of 0 to get 1

𝑙𝑛 𝑒 = 1 We must raise e to the power of 1 to get e

𝑥 𝑥
𝑙𝑛 𝑒 = 𝑥 We must raise e to the power of x to get 𝑒

𝑙𝑛 𝑥
𝑒 =𝑥 𝑙𝑛 𝑥 is the power to which e must be raised to
get x

‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎LAWS OF LOGARITHMS ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎‎APPLICATIONS OF LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎‎
Let a be a positive number, with a≠1. Let A, B, & C be any real
The pH Scale
numbers with A>0 & B>0.
+
𝑝𝐻 = − 𝑙𝑜𝑔[𝐻 ]
Law Description -​
+
[𝐻 ] - the concentration of hydrogen ions measured in
moles per liter (M)
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎(𝐴𝐵) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝐴 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝐵 Logarithm of a product of #s = sum
of the logarithms of the #s
The Richter Scale
𝐴 Logarithm of a quotient of #s = 𝐼
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎( 𝐵 ) = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝐴 − 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝐵 𝑀 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑠
difference of the logarithms of the
#s -​ I - the intensity of the earthquake
-​ S - intensity of a “standard” earthquake
𝐶
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎(𝐴 ) = 𝐶 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝐴 Logarithm of a power of a # =
exponent times the logarithm of The Decibel Scale
the # 𝐼
𝐵 = 10 𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝐼𝑜

‎ CHANGE OF BASE FORMULA ‎‎ -​ I - the intensity of the earthquake

-​ S - intensity of a “standard” earthquake
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑥
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑏𝑥 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑏

For exercises, you may check Chapter 4 in our algeb book :>
‎‎‎ ‎‎‎ ‎‎ ‎EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS ‎‎‎ ‎‎‎‎
GODBLESS Y'ALL! <3 - aikingg, wing, & rizzler
-​ is one in which the variable occurs in the exponent