I need a log
function for JavaScript, but it needs to be base 10. I can't see any listing for this, so I'm assuming it's not possible. Are there any math wizards out there who know a solution for this?
"Change of Base" Formula / Identity
The numerical value for logarithm to the base 10 can be calculated with the following identity.
Since Math.log(x)
in JavaScript returns the natural logarithm of x
(same as ln(x)), for base 10 you can divide by Math.log(10)
(same as ln(10)):
function log10(val) {
return Math.log(val) / Math.LN10;
}
Math.LN10
is a built-in precomputed constant for Math.log(10)
, so this function is essentially identical to:
function log10(val) {
return Math.log(val) / Math.log(10);
}
Easy, just change the base by dividing by the log(10). There is even a constant to help you
Math.log(num) / Math.LN10;
which is the same as:
Math.log(num) / Math.log(10);
You can simply divide the logarithm of your value, and the logarithm of the desired base, also you could override the Math.log
method to accept an optional base argument:
Math.log = (function() {
var log = Math.log;
return function(n, base) {
return log(n)/(base ? log(base) : 1);
};
})();
Math.log(5, 10);
the answer here would cause obvious precision problem and is not reliable in some use cases
> Math.log(10)/Math.LN10
1
> Math.log(100)/Math.LN10
2
> Math.log(1000)/Math.LN10
2.9999999999999996
> Math.log(10000)/Math.LN10
4
Math.log10 = function(n) {
return (Math.log(n)) / (Math.log(10));
}
Then you can do
Math.log10(your_number);
NOTE: Initially I thought to do Math.prototype.log10 = ...
to do this, but user CMS pointed out that Math doesn't work this way, so I edited out the .prototype
part.
const logBase = (n, base) => Math.log(n) / Math.log(base);
FF 25+ supports a Math.log10
method. You may to use polyfill:
if (!Math.log10) Math.log10 = function(t){ return Math.log(t)/Math.LN10; };
MDN lists the supported browsers.
Desktop Browsers
Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari 38 25 (25) Not supported 25 7.1
Mobile Browsers
Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile Not supported Not supported 25.0 (25) Not supported Not supported iOS 8
If you have a number x, then use of Math.log(x)
would essentially be lnx.
To convert it to a base other than e, you can use the following function :
function(x){ return Math.log(x)/Math.log(10); }
Math.log10(x)
! ????
The top answer is fine for an arbitrary base, but the question is regarding log base 10, and Math.log10(x)
has been standard across all browsers since 2015.*
*Except IE, if that's important to you for some reason.
For base 10 use Math.log10()
.
See docs at: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Math/log10
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