Using simpler operations Logarithms can be used to make calculations easier. For example, two numbers can be multiplied just by using a logarithm ta ble and adding. becau se becau se becau se becau se becau se Where b, x, andy are positive real numbers and . Both c and dare real numbers. [edit] Trivial identities because because Note that is undefined because there is no number such that . In fact, there is a vertical asymptote on the graph of at x = 0. [edit] Canceling exponentials Logarit hms and expon entials (anti logar ithms) with the same base canc el each ot her. This is true because logarithms and exponentials are inverse operations (just like multiplication and division or addition and subtractio n). [edit] Changing the base
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This identity is needed to evaluate logarithms on calculators. For instance, most calculatorshave buttons for ln and for log10, but not for log2. To find log2(3), one must calculate log10(3)
/ log10(2) (or ln(3)/ln(2), which yields the same result).
[edit] Proof
Let c = logba.
Then bc = a.
Take logd on both sides: logd bc
= logd a
Simplify and solve for c: clogd b = logd a
Since c = logba, then
This formula has several consequences:
where is any permutation of the subscripts 1, ..., n. For example
[edit] Summation/subtraction
The following summation/subtraction rule is especially usefulin probability theory when one
To remember higher integrals, it's convenient to define:
Then,
[edit] Approximating large numbers
The identities of logarithms can be used to approximate large numbers. Note thatlogb(a) + logb(c) = logb(ac), where a, b, and c are arbitrary constants. Suppose that one wants
to approximate the 44th Mersenne prime, 232,582,657
í 1. To get the base-10 logarithm, wewould multiply 32,582,657 by log10(2), getting 9,808,357.09543 = 9,808,357 + 0.09543. We
can then get 109,808,357
× 100.09543
§ 1.25 × 109,808,357
.
Similarly, factorials can be approximated by summing the logarithms of the terms.
[edit] Complex logarithm identities
The complex logarithm is the complex number analogue of the logarithm function. No singlevalued function on the complex plane can satisfy the normal rules for logarithms. However a
multivalued function can be defined which satisfies most of the identities. It is usual to
consider this as a function defined on aRiemann surface. A single valued version called the
principal value of the logarithm can be defined which is discontinuous on the negative x axis
and equals the multivalued version on a single branch cut.
The convention will be used here that a capital first letter is used for the principal value of functions and the lower case version refers to the multivalued function. The single valued
version of definitions and identities is always given first followed by a separate section for the multiple valued versions.
ln(r ) is the standard natural logarithm of the real number r .
Log( z ) is the principal value of the complex logarithm function and has imaginary part in the range (-, ].
Arg( z ) is the principal value of the arg function, its value is restricted to (-, ]. It can be computed using Arg( x+iy)= atan2( y, x).
The multiple valued version of log( z ) is a set but it is easier to write it without braces and
using it in formulas follows obvious rules.
log( z ) is the set of complex numbers v which satisfy ev
= z
arg( z ) is the set of possible values of the arg function applied to z .