An Introduction to Logarithms

Description

This video begins with the basics of logarithms and how they relate to exponents, showing examples of the same problem in both an exponent and a logarithm. It goes onto explain how to solve different types of logarithms, even going a little bit into scientific notation. Easy step-by-step instructions can be found in this video.

Overview

Many things in math have a reverse, and logarithms are no different. The opposite of a logarithm is an exponent, something most people are familiar with. The concept of logarithms, often called logs, is a bit more complicated than an exponent, but just as easy to learn.

Logarithms use “sub” values as well as exponential values. Sub values are values that are written a little bit lower than the number, as opposed to the “little bit higher” that exponential values are placed. They also have a slightly different meaning, although that meaning is not strictly important in a log.

Example: x^y = z, therefore {log(sub)x}^z = y

Number Example: 4^2 = 16, therefore {log(sub)4}^16 = 2

As is visible in the examples, the goal of a logarithm function is to find the exponent. The logarithm is basically asking you: “This number to (what power?) is equal to this other number.”