History of Logarithms
Logarithms were invented independently by John Napier, a Scotsman, and by Joost Burgi, a
Swiss. Napier's logarithms were published in 1614; Burgi's logarithms were published in
1620. The objective of both men was to simplify mathematical calculations. This approach
originally arose out of a desire to simplify multiplication and division to the level of addition
and subtraction. Of course, in this era of the cheap hand calculator, this is not necessary
anymore but it still serves as a useful way to introduce logarithms. Napier's approach was
algebraic and Burgi's approach was geometric. The invention of the common system of
logarithms is due to the combined effort of Napier and Henry Biggs in 1624. Natural
logarithms first arose as more or less accidental variations of Napier's original logarithms.
Their real significance was not recognized until later. The earliest natural logarithms occur
in 1618. It can’t be said too often: a logarithm is nothing more than an exponent. The basic
concept of logarithms can be expressed as a shortcut……..
Multiplication is a shortcut for Addition: 3 x 5 means 5 + 5 + 5
Exponents are a shortcut for Multiplication: 4^3 means 4 x 4 x 4
Logarithms are a shortcut for Exponents: 10^2 = 100.
The present definition of the logarithm is the exponent or power to which a stated number,
called the base, is raised to yield a specific number. The logarithm of 100 to the base 10 is
2. This is written: log10 (100) = 2. Before pocket calculators — only three decades ago, the
answer was simple. You needed logs to compute most powers and roots with fair accuracy;
even multiplying and dividing most numbers were easier with logs. Every decent algebra
books had pages and pages of log tables at the back. The invention of logs in the early
1600s fueled the scientific revolution. Back then scientists, astronomers especially, used to
spend huge amounts of time crunching numbers on paper. By cutting the time they spent
doing arithmetic, logarithms effectively gave them a longer productive life. The slide rule,
once almost a cartoon trademark of a scientist, was nothing more than a device built for
doing various computations quickly, using logarithms. See Eli Maor’s e: The Story of a
Number for more on this. Today, logs are no longer used in routine number crunching. But
there are still good reasons for studying them. Why do we use logarithms, anyway?
• To find the number of payments on a loan or the time to reach an investment goal
• To model many natural processes, particularly in living systems. We perceive loudness of sound as the logarithm
of the actual sound intensity, and dB (decibels) are a logarithmic scale. We also perceive brightness of light as the
logarithm of the actual light energy, and star magnitudes are measured on a logarithmic scale.
• To measure the pH or acidity of a chemical solution. The pH is the negative logarithm of the concentration of
free hydrogen ions.
• To measure earthquake intensity on the Richter scale.
• To analyze exponential processes. Because the log function is the inverse of the exponential function, we often
analyze an exponential curve by means of logarithms. Plotting a set of measured points on “log-log” or “semi-log”
paper can reveal such relationships easily. Applications include cooling of a dead body, growth of bacteria, and
decay of a radioactive isotopes. The spread of an epidemic in a population often follows a modified logarithmic
curve called a “logistic”.
• To solve some forms of area problems in calculus. (The area under the curve 1/x, between x=1 and x=A, equals
ln A.)
NOTE: This information compiled from multiple resources and is intended for use by students in Mr. Outt’s
Mathematics classes only.