Logarithm:

If three numbers a, b and c are related as

(exponential form), then exponent b is called the

logarithm of number c to the base a and is written as

(logarithmic form).
For e.g.

; logarithm of 8 to the base 2 is 3 i.e

The logarithm of any number to a given base is value of the index to which the base must be
raised to get the given number.
Logarithm of base e is known as Natural logarithm.
Logarithm of base 10 is known as Common logarithm. (If no base is given, base is taken as 10)
Laws of Logarithms:
1. Product law:

( )

2. Quotient law:

3. Power law:

Use of Log tables:
The logarithm of a number consists of two parts:
Characteristics : Integral part of log.
Mantissa : Fractional or decimal part of log.
To find characteristic
(i) The characteristic of the log of a number >1 is positive and numerically one less than the
number of digits before the decimal point. (A standard notation of the number makes it easy
to identify the characteristic)
For e.g.
Characteristic of log 3.257 is 0 (1-1= 0 or in standard notation

)
Characteristic of log 32.57 is 1 (2-1= 1 or in standard notation

)
Characteristic of log 325.7 is 2 (3-1= 2 or in standard notation

)
Characteristic of log 3257 is 3 (4-1= 3 or in standard notation

)
(ii) The characteristic of the log of a number <1 is negative and numerically one more than the
number of zeros immediately after the decimal point. It is represented by a bar over the digit.
(A standard notation of the number makes it easy to identify the characteristic)
For e.g.
Characteristic of log 0.3257 is

[-(0+1)= -1 or in standard notation

)
Characteristic of log 0.003257 is

[-(2+1)= -3 or in standard notation

)

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To find Mantissa
The mantissa of the logarithm of a number can be obtained from the logarithmic table. Mantissa is
always positive.
A log table consists of three parts:
A column at the extreme left contains two digit numbers starting from 10 to 99.
Ten columns headed by digits 0, 1, ..9.
Nine more column headed by digits 1, 2,9.
To find the mantissa of log of 1 digit number
Let the number be 2; Mantissa of log 2 will be value of 20 (extreme left column) under 0 = .3010
To find the mantissa of log of 2 digit number
Let the number be 23; Mantissa of log 23 will be value of 23 (extreme left column) under 0 = .3617
To find the mantissa of log of 3 digit number
Let the number be 234; Mantissa of log 234 will be value of 23 (extreme left column) under 4 = .3692
To find the mantissa of log of 4 digit number
Let the number be 2345; Mantissa of log 2345 will be value of 23 (extreme left column) under 4 + mean
difference under 5 = .3701 (3692+ 9)

To find Log form log table
For e.g. log 2345 : Characteristics = 3 and mantissa =.3701
log 0.0234: Characteristics =

and mantissa =.3692

Mantissa should always be written as positive

( )

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Antilog
If log 2345 =3.3701 than antilog of 3.3701 is 2345.
Antilog can be found out from antilog table in the same manner as log, the main difference is that an
antilog table contains numbers from .00 to .99 in the extreme left column.
Antilog tables are used to find the antilog of decimal part.
If the Characteristic(n) is positive then put the decimal after (n+1) digits from the left.

If the Characteristic (n) is negative then put (n-1) zeros before the first significant digit.

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