logarithmic scale

A logarithmic scale is a way of measuring that compresses large ranges of values into a manageable scale, using logarithms. Instead of increasing by equal amounts, like on a linear scale, each step on a logarithmic scale represents a multiplication—often by 10, 100, or another factor. This makes it easier to compare very small and very large numbers side by side. For example, on a log scale, an increase from 1 to 10 and from 10 to 100 are represented by the same step, highlighting proportional changes rather than absolute differences. It's commonly used in scientific data, such as earthquake magnitudes or sound levels.