Chapter 10
Exposing Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting comfortable with exponential expressions
Functioning with base b and base e
Taming exponential equations and compound interest
Working with logarithmic functions
Rolling over on log equations
Picturing exponentials and logs
Exponential growth and decay are natural phenomena. They happen all around us. And, being the thorough, worldly people they are, mathematicians have come up with ways of describing, formulating, and graphing these phenomena. You express the patterns observed when exponential growth and decay occur mathematically with exponential and logarithmic functions.
Why else are these functions important? Certain algebraic functions, such as polynomials and rational functions, share certain characteristics that exponential functions lack. For example, algebraic functions all show their variables ...
Get Algebra II For Dummies, 2nd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
