6.1 The Exponential Function and its Inverse

Hey guys,

So we are starting a new unit! This year is not going to be much different then what you have been learning in Grade 11.  Now, you will learn this later on but as an introduction - the main difference between what you will learn this year and last year is this:

Grade 11 Exponential Functions:

Solving for x when you have two exponential functions with the same base

ie.

27=3^x
3³=3^x (general form of: a^x=a^x)

Since we now have the same base, we can now only deal with the exponents.

3=x

or

y=b^x we are able to solve for x

Grade 12 Exponential Functions:

What if we have to solve for a^x = b^x ? This year, we will be learning how to solve for eponential equations that have different bases.

or in this unit since we will be dealing with inverse functions;

x=b^y is the inverse of y=b^x but how are we going to solve for y in the inverse exponential equation?

Just something for you guys to think about : )