Exponential And Logarithmic Functions

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions and their Applications Exponential functions are functions that involve exponents. It's different from regular functions because the variable is not the base but the exponent itself. In a graph of an exponential function, you'll notice that the change starts very small - that it is practically hard to distinguish from zero, but once it starts to grow, there's a highly noticeable increase. Figure 1. Graph of Exponential Function (left) and Logarithmic Function (right). The logarithmic function is the inverse of exponential functions. A graph of a logarithmic function shows that it is always on the positive side of the y-axis. Exponential and logarithmic functions have a lot of real-life applications covering a wide range of applications in various sections of the industry and society. Applications of Exponential Function A real-life example of exponential growth is the widespread effect of the Covid-19 virus. Figure 2 shows an exponential increase in deaths in the U.S. due to the spread of the virus.Figure 2. Exponential Growth showing Coronavirus Deaths in the U.S. The exponential growth curve above means that the number of deaths increases proportionally to the running total over time. Having the exponential growth model for the spread