logarithm

American  

[law-guh-rith-uhm, -rith-, log-uh-] / ˈlɔ gəˌrɪð əm, -ˌrɪθ-, ˈlɒg ə- /

noun

Mathematics.

1. the exponent of the power to which a base number must be raised to equal a given number; log.

   2 is the logarithm of 100 to the base 10 (2 = log10 100).

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logarithm British  

/ ˈlɒɡəˌrɪðəm /

noun

1. Often shortened to: log.  the exponent indicating the power to which a fixed number, the base, must be raised to obtain a given number or variable. It is used esp to simplify multiplication and division: if ax = M, then the logarithm of M to the base a (written log aM ) is x See also common logarithm natural logarithm

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logarithm Scientific  

/ lô′gə-rĭth′əm /

1. The power to which a base must be raised to produce a given number. For example, if the base is 10, then the logarithm of 1,000 (written log 1,000 or log ₁₀ 1,000) is 3 because 10 ³ = 1,000.

2. See more at common logarithm natural logarithm

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Etymology

Origin of logarithm

1605–15; < New Latin logarithmus < Greek lóg ( os ) log- + arithmós number; arithmetic

Example Sentences

For example, the logarithm of 700 is between 2, the logarithm of 100, and 3, the logarithm of 1,000; it happens to be about 2.8.

From Literature

The safety index associated with automobile driving is thus a relatively low 3.7, the logarithm of 5,300.

From Literature

The logarithm of 100 is 2 because 102 = 100; the logarithm of 1,000 is 3 because 103 = 1,000; and the logarithm of 10,000 is 4 because 104 = 10,000.

From Literature

For numbers between powers of 10, the logarithm is between the two nearest powers of 10.

From Literature

The logarithm of a number is simply the power to which 10 must be raised to equal the number in question.

From Literature