What they are: A logarithm is the exponent you raise a base to in order to get a number, acting as the inverse of exponentiation. Why they matter: They simplify multiplication, division, and roots ...

A logarithm is the power which a certain number is raised to get another number. Before calculators and various types of complex computers were invented it was difficult for scientists and ...

You may find this hard to believe, but there are people still alive today who once did their mathematical calculations by sliding sticks back and forth. No keypads, no batteries, no LEDs. Just sticks.