Logarithm: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
logarithm
[ หlษษกษหrษชรฐษm ]
mathematics term
A logarithm is the exponent or power to which a number (the base) must be raised to produce a given number. In simpler terms, if you have an equation in the form of b^y = x, then log_b(x) = y. Logarithms are used to simplify calculations and solve equations involving exponential growth.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The logarithm of 1000 to the base 10 is 3.
- In science, logarithms help model exponential decay.
- Engineers use logarithms to calculate sound intensity levels.
Translations
Translations of the word "logarithm" in other languages:
๐ต๐น logaritmo
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฒเคเฅเคเคฃเค
๐ฉ๐ช Logarithmus
๐ฎ๐ฉ logaritma
๐บ๐ฆ ะปะพะณะฐัะธัะผ
๐ต๐ฑ logarytm
๐ฏ๐ต ๅฏพๆฐ
๐ซ๐ท logarithme
๐ช๐ธ logaritmo
๐น๐ท logaritma
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ก๊ทธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ููุบุงุฑูุชู
๐จ๐ฟ logaritmus
๐ธ๐ฐ logaritmus
๐จ๐ณ ๅฏนๆฐ
๐ธ๐ฎ logaritem
๐ฎ๐ธ logaritmi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะปะพะณะฐัะธัะผ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแ แแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ loqaritma
๐ฒ๐ฝ logaritmo
Etymology
The term 'logarithm' was coined in the early 17th century by the Scottish mathematician John Napier. It is derived from the Greek words 'logos,' meaning 'ratio' or 'word,' and 'arithmos,' meaning 'number.' Napier introduced this concept in his work 'Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis' in 1614. The initial purpose of logarithms was to facilitate calculations by transforming multiplicative processes into additive ones, which greatly accelerated computation before the invention of calculators. The use of logarithms expanded significantly after the introduction of the slide rule, which utilized logarithmic scales for easy and efficient calculation. Over time, logarithms have become a fundamental concept in mathematics, especially in fields such as algebra, calculus, and statistics.