Math.Log Method (Double, Double) (System)

.NET Framework Class Library

Math..::.Log Method (Double, Double)

Returns the logarithm of a specified number in a specified base.

Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

Syntax

Visual Basic (Declaration)

Public Shared Function Log ( _
    a As Double, _
    newBase As Double _
) As Double

Visual Basic (Usage)

Dim a As Double
Dim newBase As Double
Dim returnValue As Double

returnValue = Math.Log(a, newBase)

public static double Log(
    double a,
    double newBase
)

Visual C++

public:
static double Log(
    double a, 
    double newBase
)

JScript

public static function Log(
    a : double, 
    newBase : double
) : double

Parameters

a: Type: System..::.Double
A number whose logarithm is to be found.

newBase: Type: System..::.Double
The base of the logarithm.

Return Value

Type: System..::.Double
In the following table +Infinity denotes PositiveInfinity, -Infinity denotes NegativeInfinity, and NaN denotes NaN.

a	newBase	Return Value
a > 0	(0 < newBase < 1) -or-(newBase > 1)	lognewBase(a)
a < 0	(any value)	NaN
(any value)	newBase < 0	NaN
a != 1	newBase = 0	NaN
a != 1	newBase = +Infinity	NaN
a = NaN	(any value)	NaN
(any value)	newBase = NaN	NaN
(any value)	newBase = 1	NaN
a = 0	0 < newBase < 1	+Infinity
a = 0	newBase > 1	-Infinity
a = +Infinity	0 < newBase < 1	-Infinity
a = +Infinity	newBase > 1	+Infinity
a = 1	newBase = 0	0
a = 1	newBase = +Infinity	0

Remarks

Parameters a and newBase are specified as base 10 numbers.

Examples

The following example uses Log to evaluate certain logarithmic identities for selected values.

Visual Basic

' Example for the Math.Log( Double ) and Math.Log( Double, Double ) methods.
Imports System
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Module LogDLogDD

    Sub Main()
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "This example of Math.Log( Double ) and " + _
            "Math.Log( Double, Double )" & vbCrLf & _
            "generates the following output." & vbCrLf)
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "Evaluate these identities with selected " & _
            "values for X and B (base):")
        Console.WriteLine("   log(B)[X] = 1 / log(X)[B]")
        Console.WriteLine("   log(B)[X] = ln[X] / ln[B]")
        Console.WriteLine("   log(B)[X] = log(B)[e] * ln[X]")

        UseBaseAndArg(0.1, 1.2)
        UseBaseAndArg(1.2, 4.9)
        UseBaseAndArg(4.9, 9.9)
        UseBaseAndArg(9.9, 0.1)
    End Sub 'Main

    ' Evaluate logarithmic identities that are functions of two arguments.
    Sub UseBaseAndArg(argB As Double, argX As Double)

        ' Evaluate log(B)[X] = 1 / log(X)[B].
        Console.WriteLine( _
            vbCrLf & "                   Math.Log({1}, {0}) = {2:E16}" + _
            vbCrLf & "             1.0 / Math.Log({0}, {1}) = {3:E16}", _
            argB, argX, Math.Log(argX, argB), _
            1.0 / Math.Log(argB, argX))

        ' Evaluate log(B)[X] = ln[X] / ln[B].
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "        Math.Log({1}) / Math.Log({0}) = {2:E16}", _
            argB, argX, Math.Log(argX) / Math.Log(argB))

        ' Evaluate log(B)[X] = log(B)[e] * ln[X].
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "Math.Log(Math.E, {0}) * Math.Log({1}) = {2:E16}", _
            argB, argX, Math.Log(Math.E, argB) * Math.Log(argX))

    End Sub 'UseBaseAndArg
End Module 'LogDLogDD

' This example of Math.Log( Double ) and Math.Log( Double, Double )
' generates the following output.
' 
' Evaluate these identities with selected values for X and B (base):
'    log(B)[X] = 1 / log(X)[B]
'    log(B)[X] = ln[X] / ln[B]
'    log(B)[X] = log(B)[e] * ln[X]
' 
'                    Math.Log(1.2, 0.1) = -7.9181246047624818E-002
'              1.0 / Math.Log(0.1, 1.2) = -7.9181246047624818E-002
'         Math.Log(1.2) / Math.Log(0.1) = -7.9181246047624818E-002
' Math.Log(Math.E, 0.1) * Math.Log(1.2) = -7.9181246047624804E-002
' 
'                    Math.Log(4.9, 1.2) = 8.7166610085093179E+000
'              1.0 / Math.Log(1.2, 4.9) = 8.7166610085093161E+000
'         Math.Log(4.9) / Math.Log(1.2) = 8.7166610085093179E+000
' Math.Log(Math.E, 1.2) * Math.Log(4.9) = 8.7166610085093179E+000
' 
'                    Math.Log(9.9, 4.9) = 1.4425396251981288E+000
'              1.0 / Math.Log(4.9, 9.9) = 1.4425396251981288E+000
'         Math.Log(9.9) / Math.Log(4.9) = 1.4425396251981288E+000
' Math.Log(Math.E, 4.9) * Math.Log(9.9) = 1.4425396251981288E+000
' 
'                    Math.Log(0.1, 9.9) = -1.0043839404494075E+000
'              1.0 / Math.Log(9.9, 0.1) = -1.0043839404494075E+000
'         Math.Log(0.1) / Math.Log(9.9) = -1.0043839404494075E+000
' Math.Log(Math.E, 9.9) * Math.Log(0.1) = -1.0043839404494077E+000

// Example for the Math.Log( double ) and Math.Log( double, double ) methods.
using System;

class LogDLogDD
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "This example of Math.Log( double ) and " +
            "Math.Log( double, double )\n" +
            "generates the following output.\n" );
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "Evaluate these identities with " +
            "selected values for X and B (base):" );
        Console.WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B]" );
        Console.WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B]" );
        Console.WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X]" );

        UseBaseAndArg(0.1, 1.2);
        UseBaseAndArg(1.2, 4.9);
        UseBaseAndArg(4.9, 9.9);
        UseBaseAndArg(9.9, 0.1);
    }

    // Evaluate logarithmic identities that are functions of two arguments.
    static void UseBaseAndArg(double argB, double argX)
    {
        // Evaluate log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B].
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "\n                   Math.Log({1}, {0}) == {2:E16}" + 
            "\n             1.0 / Math.Log({0}, {1}) == {3:E16}", 
            argB, argX, Math.Log(argX, argB),
            1.0 / Math.Log(argB, argX) );

        // Evaluate log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B].
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "        Math.Log({1}) / Math.Log({0}) == {2:E16}",
            argB, argX, Math.Log(argX) / Math.Log(argB) );

        // Evaluate log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X].
        Console.WriteLine( 
            "Math.Log(Math.E, {0}) * Math.Log({1}) == {2:E16}", 
            argB, argX, Math.Log(Math.E, argB) * Math.Log(argX) );
    }
}

/*
This example of Math.Log( double ) and Math.Log( double, double )
generates the following output.

Evaluate these identities with selected values for X and B (base):
   log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B]
   log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B]
   log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X]

                   Math.Log(1.2, 0.1) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
             1.0 / Math.Log(0.1, 1.2) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
        Math.Log(1.2) / Math.Log(0.1) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
Math.Log(Math.E, 0.1) * Math.Log(1.2) == -7.9181246047624804E-002

                   Math.Log(4.9, 1.2) == 8.7166610085093179E+000
             1.0 / Math.Log(1.2, 4.9) == 8.7166610085093161E+000
        Math.Log(4.9) / Math.Log(1.2) == 8.7166610085093179E+000
Math.Log(Math.E, 1.2) * Math.Log(4.9) == 8.7166610085093179E+000

                   Math.Log(9.9, 4.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
             1.0 / Math.Log(4.9, 9.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
        Math.Log(9.9) / Math.Log(4.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
Math.Log(Math.E, 4.9) * Math.Log(9.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000

                   Math.Log(0.1, 9.9) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
             1.0 / Math.Log(9.9, 0.1) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
        Math.Log(0.1) / Math.Log(9.9) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
Math.Log(Math.E, 9.9) * Math.Log(0.1) == -1.0043839404494077E+000
*/

Visual C++

// Example for the Math::Log( double ) and Math::Log( double, double ) methods.
using namespace System;

// Evaluate logarithmic identities that are functions of two arguments.
void UseBaseAndArg( double argB, double argX )
{

   // Evaluate log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B].
   Console::WriteLine( "\n                     Math::Log({1}, {0}) == {2:E16}"
   "\n               1.0 / Math::Log({0}, {1}) == {3:E16}", argB, argX, Math::Log( argX, argB ), 1.0 / Math::Log( argB, argX ) );

   // Evaluate log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B].
   Console::WriteLine( "         Math::Log({1}) / Math::Log({0}) == {2:E16}", argB, argX, Math::Log( argX ) / Math::Log( argB ) );

   // Evaluate log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X].
   Console::WriteLine( "Math::Log(Math::E, {0}) * Math::Log({1}) == {2:E16}", argB, argX, Math::Log( Math::E, argB ) * Math::Log( argX ) );
}

void main()
{
   Console::WriteLine( "This example of Math::Log( double ) and "
   "Math::Log( double, double )\n"
   "generates the following output.\n" );
   Console::WriteLine( "Evaluate these identities with "
   "selected values for X and B (base):" );
   Console::WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B]" );
   Console::WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B]" );
   Console::WriteLine( "   log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X]" );
   UseBaseAndArg( 0.1, 1.2 );
   UseBaseAndArg( 1.2, 4.9 );
   UseBaseAndArg( 4.9, 9.9 );
   UseBaseAndArg( 9.9, 0.1 );
}

/*
This example of Math::Log( double ) and Math::Log( double, double )
generates the following output.

Evaluate these identities with selected values for X and B (base):
   log(B)[X] == 1 / log(X)[B]
   log(B)[X] == ln[X] / ln[B]
   log(B)[X] == log(B)[e] * ln[X]

                     Math::Log(1.2, 0.1) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
               1.0 / Math::Log(0.1, 1.2) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
         Math::Log(1.2) / Math::Log(0.1) == -7.9181246047624818E-002
Math::Log(Math::E, 0.1) * Math::Log(1.2) == -7.9181246047624804E-002

                     Math::Log(4.9, 1.2) == 8.7166610085093179E+000
               1.0 / Math::Log(1.2, 4.9) == 8.7166610085093161E+000
         Math::Log(4.9) / Math::Log(1.2) == 8.7166610085093179E+000
Math::Log(Math::E, 1.2) * Math::Log(4.9) == 8.7166610085093179E+000

                     Math::Log(9.9, 4.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
               1.0 / Math::Log(4.9, 9.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
         Math::Log(9.9) / Math::Log(4.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000
Math::Log(Math::E, 4.9) * Math::Log(9.9) == 1.4425396251981288E+000

                     Math::Log(0.1, 9.9) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
               1.0 / Math::Log(9.9, 0.1) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
         Math::Log(0.1) / Math::Log(9.9) == -1.0043839404494075E+000
Math::Log(Math::E, 9.9) * Math::Log(0.1) == -1.0043839404494077E+000
*/

Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

Reference