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How do you calculate $$log (x)$$ by yourself or is it impossible?

 Jun 14, 2015

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+118687 
+10

Hi Pyramid :)

 

You have not specified a base.

Just to make the illustration easier I will make it base 2

Lets look atsome values for    $$y=log_2x$$

 

$$\\log_28=3\qquad $because $8=2^3\qquad (8,3)\\\\
log_24=2\qquad $because $4=2^2\qquad (4,2)\\\\
log_22=1\qquad $because $2=2^1\qquad (2,1)\\\\
log_21=0\qquad $because $1=2^0\qquad (1,0)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{2}=-1\qquad $because $\frac{1}{2}=2^{-1}\qquad (\frac{1}{2},-1)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{4}=-2\qquad $because $\frac{1}{4}=2^{-2}\qquad (\frac{1}{4},-2)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{8}=-4\qquad $because $\frac{1}{8}=2^{-3}\qquad (\frac{1}{8},-3)\\\\$$

 

Now I can plot these points and then draw the points joining them as accurately as I can.

Now I can estimate other outputs directly from the graph.

Here is the graph

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xneggtbbnj

 Jun 14, 2015
 #1
avatar+118687 
+10
Best Answer

Hi Pyramid :)

 

You have not specified a base.

Just to make the illustration easier I will make it base 2

Lets look atsome values for    $$y=log_2x$$

 

$$\\log_28=3\qquad $because $8=2^3\qquad (8,3)\\\\
log_24=2\qquad $because $4=2^2\qquad (4,2)\\\\
log_22=1\qquad $because $2=2^1\qquad (2,1)\\\\
log_21=0\qquad $because $1=2^0\qquad (1,0)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{2}=-1\qquad $because $\frac{1}{2}=2^{-1}\qquad (\frac{1}{2},-1)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{4}=-2\qquad $because $\frac{1}{4}=2^{-2}\qquad (\frac{1}{4},-2)\\\\
log_2\frac{1}{8}=-4\qquad $because $\frac{1}{8}=2^{-3}\qquad (\frac{1}{8},-3)\\\\$$

 

Now I can plot these points and then draw the points joining them as accurately as I can.

Now I can estimate other outputs directly from the graph.

Here is the graph

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xneggtbbnj

Melody Jun 14, 2015
 #2
avatar
+5

The basic series expansion for log to the base e (so called natural logarithms) is

log(1 + x) = x - x^2/2 + x^3/3 - x^4/4 + ...

That works providing that x lies within the range minus 1 to plus 1, but excluding minus 1.

There are a number of ways in which the series can be used in order to extend the range, and a change of base formula can be used to produce base 10 tables.

 Jun 14, 2015

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