Logarithm

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Audiendus
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Logarithm

Postby Audiendus » Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:24 pm

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.)

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Sun Oct 17, 2010 7:41 pm

Isn't this one a bit constrained by its singularly mathematical use? What can us mere mortals do with it in daily speech?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.


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