Y=e^xlna increases less quickly than y=e^x when a<e e. i. lna<1?

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The discussion centers on understanding why the function y=e^(x ln(a)) increases less quickly than y=e^x when a<e, as ln(a)<1 in this case. Participants clarify that e^(x ln(a)) is equivalent to a^x, and provide examples to illustrate that for values of a less than e, a^x will always be less than e^x. They emphasize that this relationship holds true only for positive values of a, specifically when 0<a<e. The conversation also touches on the importance of using proper notation to avoid confusion between expressions. Overall, the key takeaway is that the growth rates of these exponential functions differ based on the value of a relative to e.
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Homework Statement



I find this a bit tough to digest. Can somebody, please, elaborate?

"Because lna<1 when a<e you can see that the graph increases less quickly than the graph of e^x.."

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Shouldn't e^xlna > e^x even if lna<1 ?

Thanks.
 
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Is

\frac{1}{2}e^x&gt;e^x ??

Of course not, because whatever ex is (we would determine its value if we were given x) half of it is always less since ex>0 for all x.

You can't extend this concept for all problems however. It wouldn't be completely true that x\ln(a)&lt;x for 0<a<e because if x = -2 for example, then half or any other value of ln(a), -2\ln(a)&gt;-2

So keep in mind when doing these problems that you're dealing with a special case that ex>0 for all x.
 
Mentallic said:
Is

\frac{1}{2}e^x&gt;e^x ??

Of course not, because whatever ex is (we would determine its value if we were given x) half of it is always less since ex>0 for all x.

You can't extend this concept for all problems however. It wouldn't be completely true that x\ln(a)&lt;x for 0<a<e because if x = -2 for example, then half or any other value of ln(a), -2\ln(a)&gt;-2

So keep in mind when doing these problems that you're dealing with a special case that ex>0 for all x.

Is e^xlna=lna*e^x ?

So, if a=1 and lna=0, then e^xlna<e^x, because e^xlna will equal 0 ?

Thank You.
 
solve said:
Is e^xlna=lna*e^x ?
Yes, they're equivalent. I prefer to have the log function at the end though just because people can confuse lna* ex with \ln(a*e^x) = \ln a+\ln (e^x) = \ln a + x so if you do it that way, just be sure to add parenthesis in the right places, mainly ln(a)*ex
solve said:
So, if a=1 and lna=0, then e^xlna<e^x, because e^xlna will equal 0 ?

Thank You.
Yep! And if a=e then lna=1 so ex*lna = ex in this case.
Also remember the rules of logs that you can only take the log of a number greater than zero, so when we say exlna < ex we need to add that this is only true for 0<a<e
 
Mentallic said:
Yes, they're equivalent. I prefer to have the log function at the end though just because people can confuse lna* ex with \ln(a*e^x) = \ln a+\ln (e^x) = \ln a + x so if you do it that way, just be sure to add parenthesis in the right places, mainly ln(a)*ex

Yep! And if a=e then lna=1 so ex*lna = ex in this case.
Also remember the rules of logs that you can only take the log of a number greater than zero, so when we say exlna < ex we need to add that this is only true for 0<a<e

Thank You, Mentallic. It made my day.
 
solve said:

Homework Statement



I find this a bit tough to digest. Can somebody, please, elaborate?

"Because lna<1 when a<e you can see that the graph increases less quickly than the graph of e^x.."

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Shouldn't e^xlna > e^x even if lna<1 ?

Thanks.

Since you fail to use brackets, it is not clear what your expression e^xlna means. Is it e^{x \ln(a)} \mbox{ or } e^x \ln(a)?

RGV
 
Last edited:
Ray Vickson said:
Since you fail to use brackets, it is not clear what your expression e^xlna means. Is it e^{x \ln(a)} \mbox{ or } e^x \ln(a)?

RGV

The first one. E to the power of X times natural log of A. Sorry for the ambiguity.
 
solve said:
The first one. E to the power of X times natural log of A. Sorry for the ambiguity.

Oh... This whole time I was going with the second one

e^{x\ln(a)} is equivalent to \left(e^{\ln(a)}\right)^x :wink:edit: Something I have to note because I was going on the assumption that you were talking about e^x\cdot \ln(a)

solve said:
Is e^xlna=lna*e^x ?
No.

Sorry about getting the wrong ideas into your head. Keep in mind that everything I've been saying was intended to address the question of why \ln(a)\cdot e^x &lt; e^x for 0<a<e

The answer you're looking for however is in the hint I provided above about using the indice laws.
 
Last edited:
Mentallic said:
Oh... This whole time I was going with the second one

\left(e^{\ln(a)}\right)^x

\left(e^{\ln(a)}\right)^x = a^x here?
 
  • #10
Please, check to see if this is what I was trying to see from the get-go.

1. e^[x*ln(a)] <e^x if a<e

If a=2 and ln(a)=0.69, then

e^[x*ln(a)]: x=2, y=4 (approx)

e^x: x=2, y=8 (approx)

Here, y=e^x grows faster than y=e^[x*ln(a)]

2. e^[x*ln(a)] > e^x if a>e

If a=3 and ln(a)=1.1, then

e^[x*ln(a)]: x=4, y=81 (approx)

e^x: x=4, y=54(approx)

Here, y=e^[x*ln(a)] grows faster than y=e^x
 
  • #11
solve said:
\left(e^{\ln(a)}\right)^x = a^x here?

Yes, and since a<e, a^x&lt;e^x which is essentially all you need to understand.

solve said:
Please, check to see if this is what I was trying to see from the get-go.

1. e^[x*ln(a)] <e^x if a<e

If a=2 and ln(a)=0.69, then

e^[x*ln(a)]: x=2, y=4 (approx)
y=4 exactly, not approximately. If a=2 then e^{x\ln(a)}=\left(e^{\ln(a)}\right)^x=a^x=2^2=4

solve said:
e^x: x=2, y=8 (approx)

Here, y=e^x grows faster than y=e^[x*ln(a)]

2. e^[x*ln(a)] > e^x if a>e

If a=3 and ln(a)=1.1, then

e^[x*ln(a)]: x=4, y=81 (approx)

e^x: x=4, y=54(approx)

Here, y=e^[x*ln(a)] grows faster than y=e^x

Yes, pretty much. Using a few test values can help you get the idea of what is happening, but don't use it as an absolute proof.
 
  • #12
Mentallic said:
Yes, and since a<e, a^x&lt;e^x which is essentially all you need to understand.

Simple and elegant. This settles it. Thank You again, Mentallic.
 
  • #13
solve said:
Simple and elegant. This settles it. Thank You again, Mentallic.

No worries, and sorry again about wasting your time and confusing you with all that nonsense before.
 
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