Mykaela Barnes

November 25, 2015

LOGARITHMS
The exponent solver.

The Notation
Since logs and exponents
correlate, we can use the same
variables and display the
relationship through the
notation of both logs and
exponents.

Pictured above is the basic

notation for exponents. This
reads as b to the x power
equals y. This is stating that b
multiplied by itself x amount of
times equals y.

The notation above is for logs.

Notice that is is just a
rearranged version of
exponents. It can be read as
log base b, y equals x or log
base b of x equals y. The
coefficient, or base, of the
exponent became the base of
the log, while the exponent
became the answer.

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What are logarithms?

The easiest way to comprehend logs is to understand
its relationship to exponents. Essentially, logs are
almost the opposite of exponents. An exponent
represents how many times you are multiplying a
number by itself. With logs, you already have the
answer and the coecient, and you are solving for the
exponent. This coecient is known as the base. Logs
can be seen in nature and art, since they can be a
representation of geometrical progression.

Mykaela Barnes

November 25, 2015

History of Logarithms

Logs in Life
While logarithms are useful
for solving exponents,
where can they be applied
to the real world? There is
an endless list of
possibilities of where
logarithms are present in
day to day life.

John Napier, of Scotland from the late 1500s-1600s, was one of

the first known to experiment and develop logarithms. Napier
developed logs for use in the extensive plane and spherical
trigonometrical calculations necessary for astronomy. Napiers
idea was centered around moving particles, and thus the necessity
for calculations for astronomy. Napier wrote a 90 page paper that
included tables to simplify calculations. Napier created the slide
rule, where two rulers with logarithmic scales can be used to
multiply logarithms. This slide rule would go on to be important
to musical notes, since the ruler is similar to the neck and strings
of a guitar or ukulele. Napier also managed to include the
trigonometric function sine into his calculations.

6 Figures
Interest Rate (Log of a
growth investment!)
Order of Magnitude

(Above: Napiers moving particles table. Below: One of his

calculation tables.)

Richter Scale
Decibels
Logs allow numbers to the
power of 10 be more easily
visible. They also describe
changes in terms of

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Mykaela Barnes

November 25, 2015

History of Logarithms continued

Rules of Logs
The rules of exponents, which tell
us how to multiply, divide, and
manipulate exponents can be
translated into the rules of
logarithms.

Above represents how two terms

with base b, can be multiplied by
adding the exponents together.

Similarly when multiplying logs,

you separate them out to use
addition.

With multiplication, the

exponents were added.
Oppositely with division, we
subtract the exponents.

When dividing logs, you expand

and subtract.

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Like Napier, Joost Brgi of Switzerland wanted to develop a table

to easily compute logarithms. Brgi followed the relationship of
two progressions throughout his work and aimed for his table to
display that relationship. Barge published tables for the use of
multiplication, division, square and cube roots. Brgi favored
powers of 2 in his progressions. Unlike Napier, who had specific
terminology for his tables, Brgi did not, and instead used red and
black coloring to distinct the relationships and calculations.
Brgis work was published in 1620, while Napiers was in 1614.
Both Napier and Brgis tables and calculations are still not fully
understood to this day. Henry Briggs, a colleague of Napier, and
Adriaan Vlacq published more tables with more values after
Napiers death. The logarithms we all know and love today are
due to the development of Napier and Briggs original tables.
(Below: Brgis tables.)

Mykaela Barnes

November 25, 2015

Example Logarithmic Problems

Rewrite in logarithmic form.

First lets identify the y, b, and x so we can relate this problem to basic notation:

16 = y; 2 = b; 4 = x

With this we can look at logarithmic notation and plug in our values:

Our final answer would be:

Evaluate.

The easiest way to look at this would be if we wrote it in exponential form.

4 = b; 64 = y and we are solving for x

Using a calculator we can solve for x.

x=3

Calculicious Capstone

Mykaela Barnes

November 25, 2015

Bibliography
Azad, Kalid. "Using Logarithms in the Real World." BetterExplained. Web. <http://
betterexplained.com/articles/using-logs-in-the-real-world/>.

Coolman, By Robert. "What Are Logarithms?" LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 22 May

2015. Web. <http://www.livescience.com/50940-logarithms.html>.

Roberts, Donna. "Logarithms." Regents Prep. Oswego City School District Regents
Exam Prep Center, n.d. Web. <http://www.regentsprep.org/regents/math/algtrig/ate9/
logs.htm>.

Stapel, Elizabeth. "Logarithms: Introduction to "The Relationship"" Purplemath. Web.

<http://www.purplemath.com/modules/logs.htm>.

"Logarithms: The Early History of a Familiar Function." Mathematical Association of

America. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.maa.org%2Fpress%2Fperiodicals
%2Fconvergence%2Flogarithms-the-early-history-of-a-familiar-function-introduction>.

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