Logarithms

By
Prof M Basanna

Logarithms are least understood by many students. Logarithms are used to simplify
arithmetical problems. The logarithm of a number consists of two parts. We must first
understand the basics of logarithms.

1. Integer part called characteristic – positive or negative. Obtained by inspection.

2. Decimal part called mantissa – always positive. Obtained from logarithms table.

To find characteristic, we define the position of decimal point after first non-zero
digit of a number as zero characteristic position (z c p). By finding the shift of decimal
point from z c p we can obtain the characteristic. A shift to right is positive and a shift
to left is negative. For negative characteristic the minus sign is placed on the top of the
characteristic. The characteristic helps us only to fix the decimal point in the final result.

To find the mantissa, we use logarithms table. First of all,

1. The position of decimal point is ignored.

2. The number is approximated to 4 figures and divided into 3 parts as follows.

e.g., 375.563 → 3756 → 37 : 5 : 6

In the logarithms table, move down the first column till figure 37. You will see
5682. This is mantissa of 3700. Now, move horizontally to column headed by 5. You will
find 5740. This is the mantissa of 3750. Move further horizontally to column headed by
6. There is 7. Adding this to 5740 we get 5747. Prefixing decimal point we get the
mantissa of 3756 as 0.5747. Similarly mantissa of other numbers can be found.

Logarithms of some numbers are tabulated below to illustrate the method of finding
the logarithms of a number. Study them carefully and understand how it is done.
 Number D.P. Shift Characteristic Mantissa Logarithm
2.345 0 0 0.3701 0.3701
76.89 1 → Right 1 0.8859 1.8859
318.96 2 → Right 2 0.5038 2.5038
0.5670 1→ Left 1 0.7536 1 .7536
0.006453 3 → Left 2 0.8098 2 .8098

Working with logarithms. In any arithmetical operation the characteristic and

mantissa are separately evaluated and simplified. Observe the following operations
carefully and study the steps properly.

Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

1.2376 1.2376 2 .1755 4.3510

+ 2 .1755 − 2 .1755 x2 ÷2
1 .4131 3.0621 4.3510 2 .1755

3 .5678 3 .5678 2 .8943 4.6829

+ 2 .8943 − 2 .8943 x3 ÷3
4.4621 2 .6935 4.6829 2 .8943

To find antilogarithms, After making logarithmic operations, result must be

converted to number. This is done by finding antilogarithms.
1. The characteristic part is noted separately.
2. Mantissa part with decimal part is divided into 3 parts as follows.
0.5747 → 0.57 : 4 : 7

In the antilogarithms table, move down the first column till figure 0.57. You will see
3715. Now, move horizontally to column headed by 4. You will find 3750. Move further
horizontally to column headed by 7. There is 6. Adding this to 3750 we get 3756. This is
the antilogarithm of 0.5747. Note that it contains no decimal point and decimal point
has to be fixed with the help of characteristic. Similarly antilogarithms of other
logarithms can be found.
 We shall revisit the first table above.

Number Characteristic Mantissa Logarithm Antilogarithm Number

2.345 0 0.3701 0.3701 2345 2.345
76.89 1 0.8859 1.8859 7690 76.89
318.96 2 0.5038 2.5038 3590 319.0
0.5670 1 0.7536 1 .7536 5670 0.5670
0.006453 2 0.8098 2 .8098 6454 0.006454

Observe that the entries in the first and last columns are nearly equal. Thus, the
process of evaluation is as below.
Number → Logarithms → Simplification → Antilogarithm → Number
Let us work out a few examples.

1. 2.345 × 76.89 Numerator Denominator

N=
318.96 × 0.5670 0.3701 2.5038
anti log = 9968 + 1.8859 1 .7536
2.2560 2.2574
characteristic = 1
− 2.2574
∴N = 0.9968
1 .9986

2. 318.96 × 0.006453 Numerator Denominator

N=
0.5670 2.5038 1 .7536
anti log = 3631 + 3 .8098
characteri stic = 0 0.3136
∴ N = 3.631 − 1 .7536
0.5600

3. (2.345) 2 × 76.89 0.3701 3 .8098

N=
0.006453 0.3701
+ 1.8859
anti log = 6551
2.6261
characteristic = 4
− 3 .8090
∴ N = 65510
4.8163