College Algebra : Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for College Algebra

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for x in a logarithmic function, we need to change it into exponential form. That looks as follows:

For this problem, manipulate the log and solve:

Example Question #72 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for x in a logarithmic function, we need to change it into exponential form. That looks as follows:

For this problem, manipulate the log and solve:

Example Question #73 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

Solve for x:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for x in a logarithmic function, we need to change it into exponential form. That looks as follows:

For this problem, manipulate the log and solve:

Example Question #71 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

What is the correct value of ?  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Divide by three on both sides.

If we would recall  and , this indicates that:

Cube both sides to isolate b.

The answer is:  

Example Question #74 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

What is the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The expression can be rewritten as: 

The answer is:  

Example Question #75 : Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

Solve this logarithm: 

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the one-to-one property of logarithms we are able to set  and solve.

 

Example Question #21 : Solving Logarithmic Functions

Solve the logarithm: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

add 8 to both sides:

divide both sides by -3:

exponentiate both sides:

Example Question #1 : Applications

On the day of a child's birth, a sum of money is to be invested into a certificate of deposit (CD) that draws  annual interest compounded continuously. The plan is for the value of the CD to be at least  on the child's  birthday.

If the amount of money invested is to be a multiple of , what is the minimum that should be invested initially, assuming that there are no further deposits or withdrawals?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If we let  be the initial amount invested and  be the annual interest rate of the CD expressed as a decimal, then at the end of  years, the amount of money  that the CD will be worth can be determined by the formula

Substitute , and solve for .

The minimum principal to be invested initially is $6,551. However, since we are looking for the multiple of $1,000 that guarantees a minimum final balance of $20,000, we round up to the nearest such multiple, which is $7,000 - the correct response.

Example Question #3311 : Algebra Ii

Twelve years ago, your grandma put money into a savings account for you that earns  interest annually and is continuously compounded. How much money is currently in your account if she initially deposited  and you have not taken any money out?

Possible Answers:

$8,103

$24,596

$81,030

$10,778

$21,170

Correct answer:

$24,596

Explanation:

1. Use  where  is the current amount,  is the interest rate,  is the amount of time in years since the initial deposit, and  is the amount initially deposited.

 

2. Solve for 

You currently have $24,596 in your account.

Example Question #76 : College Algebra

Jeffrey has won a lottery and has elected to take a $10,000 per month payment.

At the beginning of the year, Jeffrey deposits the first payment of $10,000 in an account that pays 7.6% interest annually, compounded continuously. At the very beginning of each month, he deposits another $10,000. How much will he have at the very end of the year? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The continuous compound interest formula is

,

where  is the amount of money in the account at the end of the period,  is the principal at the beginning,  is the annual interest rate in decimal form, and  is the number of years over which the interest accumulates. Since Jeff deposits $1,000 per month, we apply this formula twelve times, with  equal to the principal at the beginning of each successive month, , and .

We can go ahead and calculate , since  and  do not change:

The formula can be rewritten as 

At the beginning of January, Jeffrey deposits $10,000. At the end of January, there is

in the account.

At the beginning of February, he again deposits $10,000, so there is now

in the account.

At the end of February, there is 

in the account.

Repeat addition of $10,000, then multiplication by 1.006353, ten more times to get the amount of money in the account at the end of December. This will be $125,072.98.

 

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