Page 1 of 1

Logarithm

Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:24 pm
by Audiendus
Logarithm (noun)

The power to which a base number (e.g. 10) has to be raised to give a particular number. Often shortened to "log".

Examples:
The (base 10) logarithm of 100 is 2.
The (base 10) logarithm of 200 is approximately 2.3.

[Note: The above definition is not quite adequate for logarithms less than zero, but I don't want to get too technical.]

(Coined in 1614 by the mathematician John Napier, from Greek logos, reckoning, and arithmos, number.)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:41 pm
by Slava
Isn't this one a bit constrained by its singularly mathematical use? What can us mere mortals do with it in daily speech?