ABSTRACT
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• define base, power, exponent and index • define a logarithm • distinguish between common and Napierian (i.e. hyperbolic or natural) logarithms • evaluate logarithms to any base • state the laws of logarithms • simplify logarithmic expressions • solve equations involving logarithms • solve indicial equations • sketch graphs of log10 x and loge x
With the use of calculators firmly established, logarithmic tables are no longer used for calculations. However, the theory of logarithms is important, for there are several scientific and engineering laws that involve the rules of logarithms. From Chapter 5, we know that: 16 = 24 The number 4 is called the power or the exponent or the index. In the expression 24, the number 2 is called the base.
