Logarithmic function

To what power must we raise a number(q) to obtain another number (x)?

The theologist, physician, astronomist and mathematician, John Napier introduced the concept of logarithms to resolve this question.

The problem consists of isolating the variable y in the equation q^y = x.

The solution is written y = log_q(x) and can expressed as: y is the base q logarithm of x.

Two equalities (q^y = x et y = log_q(x)) express a similar relation between three numbers: x (the result of the power), y (the exponent) and q (the number raised the power, called the base).

The logarithm of base 10 is the decadic logarithm, written log(x).

The logarithm of base e is the natural logarithm, written ln(x).

Examples:

• Calculate log₃(81): 

To what power must we raise the number 3 to obtain 81? 

3×3×3×3 = 81 ⇨ 3⁴ = 81 hence log₃(81) = 4 : the base 3 logarithm of 81 is 4.

• Calculate log₂(64): 

To what power must we raise the number 2 to obtain 64? 

2×2×2×2×2×2 = 64 ⇨ 2⁶ = 64 hence log₂(64) = 6 : the base 2 logarithm of 64 is 6.

• log(100) = 2: 

We must square the number 10 to obtain 100 (here the logarithm is decadic)

• and log₁₀₀(1)? 

To what power must we raise 100 to obtain 1?

100^y = 1 ⇨ 100⁰ = 1 ⇨ log₁₀₀(1) = 0 : the base 100 logarithm of 1 is 0.

Any number raised to the power of 0 is 1. The logarithm of 1 is always 0 no matter what the base is. (log_q(1) = 0).