The theory of logarithms: part one
These two units from the Continuing Mathematics Project assumes that the word 'logarithm' will be familiar to students using it, and that they will have used tables of logarithms to reduce the labour of working out expressions by arithmetic methods.
The units assume that students are interested in knowing why logarithms work, or that they need to know, in order to use what are called 'natural' logarithms in the study of subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and economics. It also provides, at the end of Part One, an optional appendix which describes the essential features of a slide-rule. Part Two assumes that the user has completed Part One and the objectives are to enable students to acquire the concept of a logarithm as an extension of the concepts of a 'power' and of an 'index', understand how the four rules of logarithms are derived, and be able to apply them, appreciate that the base 'ten' of common logarithms is a consequence of our denary system of writing numerals and become aware of the importance of the natural base 'e'.
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
