Logarithmic functions

A logarithmic function is the inverse of an exponential function. It answers the question: "To what power must a specific base be raised to obtain a given number?" For example, in log base 10 of 100, it's asking, "10 raised to what power equals 100?" which is 2. Logarithms help simplify calculations involving very large or small numbers, and they are crucial in fields like science, engineering, and finance. Essentially, they measure how many times you multiply a base to reach a target number, turning exponential growth or decay into a linear scale.