# 5. Natural Logarithms (to the base e)

by M. Bourne

The number e frequently occurs in mathematics (especially calculus) and is an irrational constant (like π). Its value is e = 2.718 281 828 ...

Apart from logarithms to base 10 which we saw in the last section, we can also have logarithms to base e. These are called natural logarithms.

We usually write natural logarithms using ln, as follows:

ln x to mean log_e x (that is, "log x to the base e")

Natural logarithms are commonly used throughout science and engineering. (For example, see Applications of Derivatives of Logarithms.)

Where does this value "e" come from? Go to Calculating the Value of e to find out.

## Notation

NOTE: Please don't write natural log as

"In" (as in "She lives IN Singapore.")

Make sure it is

"" (as in L for logarithm and N for natural).

I know it looks like "In" on your calculator because of the font they use, but you only confuse yourself if you don't write it properly.

Actually, the ln notation confuses a lot of students and it would be better if we (and calculators) wrote it our in full. That is log_e.

### Example 1

Find the natural logarithm of 9.178.

Continues below

## Change of Base

At times we need to change from one base to another. The change of base formula (to change from base a to base b) is as follows:

log_b\ x=(log_a\ x)/(log_a\ b)

### Example 2

Find the value of log_3 8.7.

### Exercises

1. Use logarithms to base 10 to find log_2 86.

2. Find the natural logarithm of 1.394.

See also the Interactive Log Table where you can easily find log values to different bases.

## Application of Exponential Functions

Here is an exponential graph which made lots of people very RICH (as long as they sold out at the peak).

Check out the Dow Jones Industrial Average graph.

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