The spelling of the phrase "common logarithm" reflects the standard English pronunciation. The word "common" is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, and the vowel sound is the same as in "lot." The word "logarithm" has stress on the second syllable and the vowels are pronounced as follows: "o" as in "stop," "a" as in "cat," and "i" as in "sit." The IPA phonetic transcription for "common logarithm" is /ˈkɑmən ˈlɑgəˌrɪðəm/.
The common logarithm, also known as the base-10 logarithm or logarithm to the base 10, is a mathematical function that calculates the exponent to which the number 10 must be raised to obtain a given number. It is denoted as log10(x), where x is the number for which the logarithm is being calculated.
In more precise terms, the common logarithm of a positive real number x is the power to which 10 must be elevated to obtain x. This means that if log10(x) = y, then 10 raised to the power y will result in x. For example, log10(100) = 2, because 10 raised to the power 2 equals 100.
The common logarithm is widely used in various scientific and engineering fields, as it aids in simplifying calculations involving large numbers or exponential equations. It provides a convenient way to convert multiplicative calculations into simpler additive calculations.
The properties of the common logarithm include the following: log10(1) = 0, log10(10) = 1, log10(a*b) = log10(a) + log10(b), log10(1/a) = -log10(a), and log10(a^c) = c*log10(a), where a, b, and c are positive real numbers.
In modern mathematical applications, logarithms with bases other than 10 (such as the natural logarithm with base e) are often used. However, the common logarithm remains important and frequently utilized for its simplicity and compatibility with the decimal number system.
The word "common logarithm" comes from the combination of the Latin word "logarithmus" and the adjective "common".
The term "logarithm" was coined by the Scottish mathematician John Napier in the early 17th century. It is derived from two Greek words: "logos" meaning "ratio" or "proportion", and "arithmos" meaning "number". Napier introduced logarithms as a way to simplify complex mathematical calculations and reduce them to simpler addition and subtraction.
The adjective "common" differentiates the base-10 logarithm from logarithms with different bases. The common logarithm, also known as the Briggsian logarithm, uses 10 as its base. This distinction was necessary as logarithmic tables were commonly used in the past, and different bases were available depending on the purpose.