Department of Education
Region III
                                             Division of Zambales
                                        LIPAY NATIONAL HIGH SHOOL
                                               School ID: 301034
                              Magsaysay Park, Poblacion South, Sta. Cruz, Zambales
                                  Solving Exponential Equations
I.     Introduction
           Hugot ba Class? Eto ang matinding hugot, year 2002.
                      (Play the song, HALF-LIFE by Duncan Sheik)
                                                “Maybe, I need to see the daylight
                                                   To leave behind the half-life
                                                Don't you see I'm breaking down?”
                                                             – Duncan Shiek, Daylight (2002)
             Exponential functions are used to model real-life situations such as population growth, carbon
       dating, growth of an epidemic, loan interest rates, investments and of course, radioactive decay or half –
       life.
             The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for half of the substance to decay.
       From the definition of half – life given, explain the meaning of the song.
           Consider this problem: The half – life of Zn – 71 is 2.54 minutes. Initially, there were 𝑦0 grams of Zn –
                     1
       71, but only 256 of this amount remains some time. How much time has passed?
II.    Learning Competencies
           At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to solve exponential equations (M11GM – Ie – f – 1)
III.   Review
       Have a recall the following definitions and theorems. (The LAWS of EXPONENT)
          Definition. Let 𝑎 ≠ 0. We define the following:
          1. 𝑎0 = 1
                       1
          2. 𝑎−𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛
           Theorems. Let 𝑟 and 𝑠 be rational numbers. Then,
           1. 𝑎𝑟 𝑎 𝑠 = 𝑎𝑟+𝑠
                𝑎𝑟
           2.   𝑎𝑠
                     = 𝑎𝑟−𝑠
           3. (𝑎𝑟 )𝑠 = 𝑎𝑟𝑠
           4. (𝑎𝑏)𝑟 = 𝑎𝑟 𝑏 𝑟
                 𝑎 𝑟     𝑎𝑟
           5. (𝑏 ) = 𝑏𝑟
IV.    Presentation
           The exponential function is one of the most important functions in mathematics (though it would
       have to admit that the linear function ranks even higher in importance).
       To form an exponential function, we let the independent variable be the exponent. A simple example is
       the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 .
              Exponential Equation
                 An equation involving exponential expressions.
                                               1
                            Example. 72𝑥 =
                                              343
                                                                      Exponential Inequality
                                                          An inequality involving exponential expressions.
                                                                      Example. 52𝑥 − 5𝑥+1 ≤ 0
              Exponential Functions
                 Function of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑥 (𝑏 > 0, 𝑏 ≠ 1).
              Example. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1.8𝑥
                           Or 𝑦 = 5𝑥
   V.         Activity I
                  Determine whether the given is an exponential function, exponential equation, or exponential
              inequality.
                         1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2
                                  1 𝑥
                        2. 2 ≥ (2)
                        3. 74𝑥 = 𝑦
                        4. 4(10𝑥−2 ) = 500
                        5. 7 < 14𝑥+3
   VI.        Activity II
                   To solve exponential equation, we must follow the steps:
                   Steps:
                            1. Write both sides with the same base.
                            2. Apply the one-to-one property.
                            3. Solve for the value of x.
                   One – to One Property of Exponential Functions
              If 𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥2 , then 𝑏 𝑥1 ≠ 𝑏 𝑥2 . Conversely, if 𝑏 𝑥1 = 𝑏 𝑥2 , then 𝑥1 = 𝑥2
         Example 1. Solve the equation 4𝑥−1 = 16.                  Example 2. Solve the equation 125𝑥−1 = 25𝑥+3 .
         Solution. Write both sides with 4 as the base.            Solution. Both 125 and 25 can be written using 5
                         4𝑥−1 = 16                                                 as the base.
                         4𝑥−1 = 42                                                125𝑥−1 = 25𝑥+3
                         𝑥 −1 = 2                                                 (53 )𝑥−1 = (52 )𝑥+3
                         𝑥 = 2 + 1                                                53(𝑥−1) = 52(𝑥+3)
                         𝑥 = 3                                                    3(𝑥 − 1) = 2(𝑥 + 3)
                                                                                  3𝑥 − 3 = 2𝑥 + 6
                                                                                           𝑥=9
              Solve for 𝑥 in the following exponential equations.
                      1. 3𝑥 = 81
                      2. 57−𝑥 = 125
   VII.       Assessment
      The students will perform an assessment (10 items questions) based on the lesson using Interactive
PowerPoint. The question on the Introduction about Half-life can be answered on this section as Enrichment.
   VIII.      Generalization
                  Summary of the Lesson
Prepared by:
BRIAN M. MARY
Lipay National High School