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Line 1: − A '''logarithm''' of a [[number]] is the [[exponential]] power to which you raise the base to obtain the number.+ + Line 22:
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Note error in image
[[Image:log.png|thumb|right|px=200|Logarithm with various bases. Note that the legend has an error: it confuses the base 2 and base e lines.]]
'''Logarithm''' of a [[number]] is the [[exponential]] power to which you raise the base to obtain the number.
For high school [[algebra]], the most common logarithms are base-10 (the common log) and base ''[[e]]'' (the [[natural logarithm|natural log]]).
For high school [[algebra]], the most common logarithms are base-10 (the common log) and base ''[[e]]'' (the [[natural logarithm|natural log]]).
The arrival of pocket-sized electronic [[calculator]]s brought an end to the practical use of the slide rule or the table of logarithms. A calculator can compute a logarithm to ten places in less time than it takes to turn to the right page in a book-sized table of logarithms.
The arrival of pocket-sized electronic [[calculator]]s brought an end to the practical use of the slide rule or the table of logarithms. A calculator can compute a logarithm to ten places in less time than it takes to turn to the right page in a book-sized table of logarithms.
[[category:mathematics]]
[[Category:Mathematics]]