Mastering Technical Mathematics, Third Edition, 3rd Edition

24	Logarithms and Exponentials

A logarithm (sometimes called a log) of a quantity is a power to which a positive real number constant is raised to obtain that quantity. An exponential of a quantity is the result of raising a positive real number constant to a power equal to that quantity. The constant is known as the base of the logarithmic function or the exponential function. The two most common bases for logarithmic and exponential functions are 10 and e, where e is an irrational number approximately equal to 2.71828. The number e is also known as Euler’s constant and the exponential constant.

THE LOGARITHM BASE

Suppose you raise a positive real number b to some real number power y, getting another real number x as the result. A mathematician ...