Logarithm

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈlÉ‘.gÉ™.ɹɪ.ð(É™)m/

Origin

From New Latin logarithmus, term coined by Scot mathematician John Napier from Ancient Greek λόγος (logos, "word, reason") and ἀριθμός (arithmos, "number").

Full definition of logarithm

Noun

1. (mathematics) For a number $x$, the power to which a given base number must be raised in order to obtain $x$. Written $\backslash log\_b\; x$. For example, $\backslash log\_\{10\}\; 1000\; =\; 3$ because $$

1. For a currency which uses denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, etc., each jump in the base-10 logarithm from one denomination to the next higher is either 0.3010 or 0.3979.

Synonyms

• log

Derived terms

• common logarithm, common log
• natural logarithm, natural log
• logarithmancy

Anagrams

• algorithm