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Glite Dictionary
common logarithm

common logarithm

5.1
The power you raise 10 to get a number
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈlɔɡəˌrɪðəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : logaritmo común
  • The common logarithm of 1000 is 3 because 10 to the power of 3 is 1000.

Examples

  • The common logarithm of 100 is 2.

  • Many scientific calculators have a dedicated key for the common logarithm function.

  • To solve the equation efficiently, you might take the common logarithm of both sides.

  • You can calculate the common logarithm using a scientific calculator.

  • The common logarithm of 100 is 2, since 10 raised to the power of 2 equals 100.

  • To solve the equation, you must first find the common logarithm of the variable.

  • In many mathematical applications, the common logarithm simplifies calculations with powers of ten.

Surface Forms

common logarithm singular
common logarithms plural

Morphology

common + logarithm

The modifier 'common' can be interpreted as 'usual' or 'standard', so a learner who knows 'common' and 'logarithm' could infer this refers to a conventional/ordinary type of logarithm. However, the specific convention that it means base 10 is a specialized mathematical convention not derivable from the general word meanings alone, so the exact sense is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Common logarithm comes from the fact it uses the number 10, the 'common' number we use for counting and decimals. Here common means 'usual' and logarithm tells you how many times to multiply 10 to get a number, so the common logarithm of 1000 is 3.