Calculating log (logbx):
logbx = y implies by = x.
Where,
b = base,
y = number,
x = log value.
Calculating Antilog:
y = 10x
Where,
x = number,
y = antilog value.
Logarithms and Anti-Logarithms: How It
Works and Its Significance
- Guide Authored by Corin B. Arenas, published on October 1, 2019
If you've ever wondered how experts determine great distances,
earthquake intensity, and global economic growth rates, then
you've come to the right place.
Calculating very large sums can be slow and confusing. But with the
help of logarithms (log) and antilogarithms (antilog), calculations
can be made simpler.
Read on to learn more about log and antilog, how they work, and
why these are relevant mathematical concepts.
What is Logarithm?
A logarithm is the power to which a number (referred to as
the base) must be multiplied to itself to obtain a given number. In
simpler terms, logarithm solves the problem:
How many times do we multiply b to obtain another number y?
Logarithm counts the number of times the same factor must be
multiplied to arrive at a given number.
Who Came Up with It?
Log was invented in the 16th century as a calculation tool by
Scottish mathematician, physicist and astronomer, John Napier. He
wrote the book Mirifici Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio with
tables and numbers discussing natural logarithms, laying down the
groundwork for its basic concept.
Napier coined the term logarithm from the Greek word logos which
means ‘ratio or proportion,' and arithmos which means ‘number.'
When combined, it literally means ‘ratio number.'
2 Types of Logarithms
The natural logarithm of a number is its log to the base of
the constant e, where e is approximately equal to
2.718281828459. The equation is written as loge(x).
If a logarithm does not specify a base, like this example: log(1000),
it's known as a common logarithm that uses the base 10.
log(1000), it's known as a common logarithm that uses the base
10.
How is Log Used?
Once you start calculating figures by millions, billions and trillions,
it can get quite taxing. Whether it concerns counting a lot of money,
the growth of populations, or covering large distances, log can work
for you. It can simplify large sums that involve long and confusing
equations, making them easier to grasp.
Here is the standard equation for log:
logb(x) = y
Where,
The number multiplied to itself (b) is the base.
The number of times it is multiplied (y) is the logarithm.
The number obtained (x) is written in the parenthesis.
To understand how the concept works, here's an example with a
smaller number:
Question: How many 2s do we multiply to get 32?
b = 2, x = 32
log2(32) = y
Answer: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 32
5 number 2s must be multiplied to obtain the number 32.
The answer: log2(32) = 5
Therefore, in this example: The logarithm of 32 with base 2 is 5, or
log base 2 of 32 is 5.
Moreover, log is the inverse function of exponentiation, where the
mathematical operation is written as bn. b is the base that is
multiplied according to the power of n, which is the number of times
it is multiplied to itself.
What does this mean? The log of a number is the exponent to
which base b is multiplied to obtain a given number. To give you a
better idea, refer to the sample log equation set alongside its
exponential equation below.
log exponent
log2(32) = 5 25 = 32
Now let's try it with a large number.
Question: How many 10s do we multiply to get 150,000,000,000?
b = 10, x = 150,000,000,000
logb(x) = y
log(150,000,000,000) = y
y = 11.1760912590557
log(150,000,000,000) = 11.1760912590557
This is solved by using the log function in a scientific calculator. Or
use the calculator on this page to get the answer.
How is Antilogarithm Related to Log?
A log number can then be returned to its original number. This can
be done using antilogarithm (antilog). Thus, the antilog is
the inverse function of log. Likewise, antilog functions
to exponentiate a simplified log value.
To compute the antilog of a number y, you must raise the logarithm
base b (usually 10, sometimes the constant e) to the power that will
generate the number y.
Here is the equation for antilog using base 10:
10x = y
Where x is the exponent and y is the antilog value.
For instance, if we take this equation, log(5) = x, its antilog will be
10x = 5.
Log: log(5) = 0.698970004336019
Antilog: 100.698970004336019 = 5
Now let's try it with a larger number.
If we take log(150,000,000,000) = x, its antilog will be 10x =
150,000,000,000.
Log: log10(150,000,000,000) = 11.1760912590557
Antilog: 1011.1760912590557= 150,000,000,000
Importance and Real-World Applications
Prior to the invention of calculators, logarithms were used to
simplify computations in various fields of knowledge, such as
navigation, surveying, astronomy, and later on, engineering.
Imagine sailing in the middle of nowhere in the 16th century.
Navigators back then relied on the position of stars and a sextant
mechanism to pinpoint their exact location. Without modern
technology to help you compute great distances, you can use log to
simplify your calculations. Accuracy is important, or you risk more
days at sea with meager supplies. Fewer equations mean less room
for error.
What about other practical applications? Live Science states
logarithms relate geometric progressions to arithmetic
progressions. If you've ever noticed repetitive shapes and patterns
in nature, architecture, and art, these formations possess their own
corresponding logarithmic values.
Today, knowledge from how these patterns work influences the way
humanity constructs and designs houses, buildings, and urban
landscapes.
Logarithms are also used to express the extent and intensity of
certain scales. Apart from wide distances, and high speeds, it
measures other things such as:
Sound intensity
Sound frequency
Force of windstorms
Strength of earthquakes
Corrosive level of acids
Hardness of minerals
Brightness of stars
Let's take decibels as an example. To make speakers louder by 10
decibels, it must be supplied by 10 times the power. As you
increase it to +20 dB, it will need 100 times the power, and by +30
dB it will need 1,000 the power.
Moreover, sound intensity progresses arithmetically. It also changes
proportionally with the logarithm of a sound wave which progresses
geometrically.
Below is a table from Live Science listing different logarithmic
scales with their corresponding linear scales.
Field of Measurement Linear Scale Logarit
Sound Intensity Power (×10) Decibels
Note Pitch Frequency (×2) Note (+12
Brightness of Star Power per unit area (×100) Magnitud
Earthquake Intensity Energy (×1000) Richter S
Wind Intensity Wind speed (×1.5) Beaufort
Mineral Hardness Absolute hardness (×3 approx.) Mohs Sca
Acidity or Basicity Concentration of H+ions (×10) pH (-1)
In Measuring Rates and Ranks
According to Kalid Azad, the math educator
behind [Link], logarithms are how we figure out how
fast something is growing.
Common logarithms basically describe numbers in terms of their
powers of 10. When it comes to interest rate, the logarithm is
the growth in an investment.
In determining the GDP growth rate of a country, analysts review
GDP in subsequent years. They take the GDP of the previous year,
and the GDP the following year, then compute the logarithm to find
the estimated growth rate.
Search engines use the link graph to help score the importance,
trustworthiness & authority of documents across the web. Google's
PageRank was a major evolution in search which boosted search
relevancy and helped Google search marketshare.
According to Azad, in a scale of 1 to 10, a landing page with a
PageRank of 2 is 10 times more popular than a page with a
PageRank of 1. If a site has a PageRank of 5, and a competitor site
has a PageRank of 9, then it has a difference of 4 orders of
magnitude.
An order of magnitude means roughly a 10x difference, or a
ranking is 1 digit larger compared to the other. In this case, a site
with a PageRank 9 is 100,000,000 more popular than a site with
PageRank 1.
The Bottom Line
Log and antilog are significant computing methods that allow us to
simplify large sums. Simplifying shortens the computation process
and makes calculations easier to grasp. This helps reduce room for
error.
Moreover, using log provides measurable scales for gauging natural
phenomenon, like earthquake intensity, the force of windstorms,
and the brightness of stars. In terms of finance, logarithms allow us
to pinpoint interest rates and economic growth rates.
It's practically used in many fields. Large values that depend on the
accuracy of measurement benefit from using logarithmic
calculations.
