logarithm

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

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).

logarithm

/ ˈlɒɡəˌrɪðəm /

noun

1. 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 Often shortened tolog See also common logarithm natural logarithm

logarithm

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of logarithm¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of logarithm¹

C17: from New Latin logarithmus, coined 1614 by John Napier , from Greek logos ratio, reckoning + arithmos number

Example Sentences

Their functions included computing higher-order multiplications, exponents and logarithms, among other mathematical operations.

From New York Times

In 1881, astronomer Simon Newcomb noticed that early pages of logarithm tables, which correspond to numbers beginning with one, were grubby and worn compared with the pristine later pages.

From Scientific American

But unlike logarithms or formulas, there was no registry for sequences of numbers.

From Scientific American

Here’s the conversion formula the scientists came up with: Human age is equal to 16 multiplied by the natural logarithm of the dog’s age, plus 31.

From Seattle Times

To accommodate the vast size differences, the researchers divided classes using a mathematical function called a logarithm: the average weight of organisms in one class differed by a factor of 10 from adjacent classes.

From Scientific American