Mathematics
What is Logarithms?
A logarithm answers the question 'what power do I raise this base to, to get this number?' It's the inverse of exponentiation, and it turns multiplication into addition — making huge ranges of numbers manageable.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains logarithms.
Key things to understand
- 1log base b of x = the exponent you raise b to, to get x (e.g., log₁₀ 1000 = 3).
- 2It's the inverse of raising a number to a power.
- 3It compresses huge scales (used in pH, decibels, the Richter scale).
- 4It turns multiplication into addition, which simplified pre-calculator math.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a logarithm in simple terms?
- The power you must raise a base number to in order to get another number.
- Where are logarithms used?
- Measuring earthquakes (Richter), sound (decibels), acidity (pH), and in algorithms and growth rates.
- What is a natural logarithm?
- A logarithm with base e (≈2.718), common in math and science for continuous growth.