II. Background Material

Objectives:

=> To understand algebraically and graphically exponential and logarithms.

=> To understand and use linear (Cartesian) and semi-log graph paper for the representation of data.

=> To review differential and integral calculus

=> To understand and use spreadsheets

=> To understand the theory, instrumentation and application of spectrophotometric methods of analysis

Exponents

Defn: N = bx or N = b^x

Figure II-1

Using a JAVA aware browser you can create your own version of Figure II-1.

Note use of ^

N is the number, b is the base, often 10 but also e ( = 2.7183), and x is the exponent

With common base, exponents can be added or subtracted

e.g. a^x * a^y = a^(x+y) to perform multiplication or division.

Table II-1

x

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

1 0^-x

1.000

0.316

0.100

0.032

0.010

0.003

0.001

e^-x

1.000

0.607

0.368

0.223

0.135

0.082

0.050

See also Parrott, E.L. and Saski, W. 1977. Experimental Pharmaceutics, Burgess, p297.

This page was last modified: 12 February 2001

x	0.0	0.5	1.0	1.5	2.0	2.5	3.0
1 0^-x	1.000	0.316	0.100	0.032	0.010	0.003	0.001
e^-x	1.000	0.607	0.368	0.223	0.135	0.082	0.050

10^-x is:
e^-x is: