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Exponential functions with bases 2 and 1/2. In mathematics, the exponential function is the unique real function which maps zero to one and has a derivative equal to its value. . The exponential of a variable is denoted or , with the two notations used interchangeab
However, in general settings, the logarithm tends to be a multi-valued function. For example, the complex logarithm is the multi-valued inverse of the complex exponential function. Similarly, the discrete logarithm is the multi-valued inverse of the exponential function in finite groups; it has uses in public-key cryptography.
For example, (+ /) converges to the exponential function , and the infinite sum = ()! turns out to equal the hyperbolic cosine function . In fact, it is impossible to define any transcendental function in terms of algebraic functions without using some such "limiting procedure" (integrals, sequential limits, and infinite sums are just a few).
The definition of e x as the exponential function allows defining b x for every positive real numbers b, in terms of exponential and logarithm function. Specifically, the fact that the natural logarithm ln(x) is the inverse of the exponential function e x means that one has = () = for every b > 0.
Logarithms can be used to make calculations easier. For example, two numbers can be multiplied just by using a logarithm table and adding. These are often known as logarithmic properties, which are documented in the table below. [2] The first three operations below assume that x = b c and/or y = b d, so that log b (x) = c and log b (y) = d.
Exponential function: raises a fixed number to a variable power. Hyperbolic functions: formally similar to the trigonometric functions. Inverse hyperbolic functions: inverses of the hyperbolic functions, analogous to the inverse circular functions. Logarithms: the inverses of exponential functions; useful to solve equations involving exponentials.
Logarithmic growth is the inverse of exponential growth and is very slow. [2] A familiar example of logarithmic growth is a number, N, in positional notation, which grows as log b (N), where b is the base of the number system used, e.g. 10 for decimal arithmetic. [3] In more advanced mathematics, the partial sums of the harmonic series
In mathematics, an elementary function is a function of a single variable (typically real or complex) that is defined as taking sums, products, roots and compositions of finitely many polynomial, rational, trigonometric, hyperbolic, and exponential functions, and their inverses (e.g., arcsin, log, or x 1/n).