n. Mathematics The power to which a base, such as 10, must be raised to produce a given number. If nx = a, the logarithm of a, with n as the base, is x; symbolically, logn a = x. For example, 103 = 1,000; therefore, log10 1,000 = 3. The kinds most often used are the common logarithm (base 10), the natural logarithm (base e), and the binary logarithm (base 2). [New Latin logarithmus : Greek logos, reason, proportion; see leg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + Greek arithmos, number; see ar- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] log′a·rithmic (-rĭthmĭk), log′a·rithmi·cal (-mĭ-kəl) adj. log′a·rithmi·cal·ly adv. |
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