Logarithm

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Logarithm

Logarithm (pronounced: /ˈlɒɡərɪðəm/) is a mathematical concept that is used extensively in many fields, including medicine.

Etymology

The term "logarithm" is derived from the Greek words "logos" which means "ratio" and "arithmos" which means "number". It was first introduced by the Scottish mathematician John Napier in the early 17th century.

Definition

In mathematics, a logarithm is the inverse function to exponentiation. That means the logarithm of a given number x is the exponent to which another fixed number, the base b, must be raised, to produce that number x. In the simplest case, the logarithm counts the number of occurrences of the same factor in repeated multiplication; this number of occurrences of the factor is the exponent.

Use in Medicine

In medicine, logarithms are often used in calculations involving biological growth and decay, dosage calculations, and in the interpretation of medical imaging data. For example, the decibel (dB), a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound, is based on the logarithm of the ratio of two power levels.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski