Home » VCE » Maths Methods U3 & 4 Master Notes » Graphs of Functions

# Graphs of Functions

## 5.3 Special Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

#### Special Exponential Functions

• The exponential function y=e^x is a special exponential function, and is vital in the field of mathematics.
• In particular, e=\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left(1+\frac{1}{n}\right)^{n} is a constant known as the Euler’s number. It is approximately 2.718281459045…, and it is an irrational number like \pi.
Read More »5.3 Special Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

## 4.1 Transformations with a Single Parameter

#### Transformations with a Single Parameter

• In previous section (A1 – Functions and Graphs/Transformation of Graphs), we have looked at transformations such as dilation, translation and reflection applied to specific functions and graphs.
• We can expand this knowledge to transformations under a single, common parameter.

For instance, a translation of k units rightwards, and l units upwards.

• In exact, we will look into the common characteristics that transformations of the same type under a unknown parameter share.
Read More »4.1 Transformations with a Single Parameter

## 1.6 Trigonometric Functions

#### Graphs of Sine and Cosine Functions

• The graph of where -\pi<x<3\pi are plotted below. Do note that it extends beyond the drawn range.
• There are a few observations we can make, and we can tie it back to what we have already learnt:

i) The graph repeats itself after an interval of 2\pi units. We say that the graph has a period of 2\pi, and hence is called a periodic function. Previously, we have learnt that \sin(x+2\pi).

## 1.4 Logarithmic Functions

#### The Logarithmic Function

• The logarithmic function with base is defined as follows:

a^{x} = b is equivalent to log_{a}{b}=x, where a \in R^{+}\setminus \left \{ 1 \right \} .

Note:a \in R^{+}\setminus \left \{ 1 \right \}‘ means that could be any positive number, excluding 1.

• The expression log_{a}{y}=x is read as: ‘the logarithm of y to the base a is equal to x’.

Example

## 1.3 Exponential Functions [Free]

#### The Exponential Function

• The exponential function is defined as follows:

y=a^x, where a \in R^+\backslash {1}.

Note:a \in R^+\backslash {1}’ means that could be any positive number, excluding 1.

Example

9=3^{2}=3 \times 3 is equivalent to log_{3}9=2.

8=16^{\frac{3}{4}}=\sqrt[4]{16^{3}}=\sqrt{\sqrt{16 \times 16 \times 16}}.

Graph & Properties

Read More »1.3 Exponential Functions [Free]