logarithmic

Also log·a·rith·mi·cal

[law-guh-rith-mik, -rith-, log-uh-]

adjective

Mathematics.

1. pertaining to a logarithm or logarithms.

2. (of an equation) having a logarithm as one or more of its unknowns.

3. (of a function)

   1. pertaining to the function y = log x.

   2. expressible by means of logarithms.

logarithmic

/ ˌlɒɡəˈrɪðmɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, using, or containing logarithms of a number or variable

2. consisting of, relating to, or using points or lines whose distances from a fixed point or line are proportional to the logarithms of numbers

Other Word Forms

• logarithmically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of logarithmic¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; logarithm + -ic

Example Sentences

The moment magnitude scale is logarithmic — that is, each whole number of magnitude represents about a 30-fold increase in energy released.

Read more on New York Times

The scale for brightness is reverse logarithmic, which means the brighter an object is, the lower its magnitude number.

Read more on Salon

The scale’s objective, base-10 logarithmic system caught on, and although it’s been superseded, people still attach his name to the scale.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the February 6 earthquake was a 7.8—about four times bigger on the logarithmic scale of earthquake magnitudes.

Read more on Scientific American

Earthquakes are measured on a logarithmic scale, which means the difference between a 6.8 and a 7.8 is bigger than it sounds.

Read more on Washington Post