Logarithmic Scale: Graphing in Microsoft Excel

In this video I go over a very useful and interesting topic, which is graphing in the logarithmic scale, or log scale for short. The most common log scale, which is the one I cover in this video is the base-10 log scale. The idea behind the log scale is to convert the numbers on a graph, such as the vertical or horizontal axes, by taking the log of these numbers. The log of a number is, as explained in my earlier videos, defined as the power of the base, in this case base 10. For example the number 100, the log of it is log(100) = 2, because 10^2 = 100. Thus in this case, we reduced the number 100 to the number 2. When dealing with large numbers that vary a great deal, the log scale is useful in reducing the scale of the axis which makes it easier to visualize, as opposed to a basic linear scale.

Common examples of the log scale are found in Earthquake Strength (the Richter Scale), the pH of a solution, and the loudness of sound (measured in decibels).

I also briefly discuss log-log plots, which are plots that have both the vertical and horizontal axes plotted in log scales.

When graphing in Microsoft Excel, it is very easy to convert a scale into a log scale, without having to calculate the log of a number yourself. Simply change to a log scale, with your preferred base in the Excel axis options.

When graphing in Microsoft Excel, it is very easy to convert a scale into a log scale, without actually having to calculate the log of a number yourself. Simply change to a log scale, with your prefered base in the Excel axis options.

Download the notes in my video:

Written Notes: https://1drv.ms/b/s!As32ynv0LoaIhtdQAtLYxYdpKyRvaQ Excel File: https://1drv.ms/x/s!As32ynv0LoaIhtdNF4YbTMIJFhn60Q?e=cp2J2L

View Video Notes on Steemit: https://steemit.com/mathematics/@mes/logarithmic-scale-graphing-in-microsoft-excel

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