Edit

Share via


Math.Log Method

Definition

Returns the logarithm of a specified number.

Overloads

Log(Double, Double)

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

Log(Double)

Returns the natural (base e) logarithm of a specified number.

Log(Double, Double)

Source:
Math.cs
Source:
Math.cs
Source:
Math.cs

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

C#
public static double Log(double a, double newBase);

Parameters

a
Double

The number whose logarithm is to be found.

newBase
Double

The base of the logarithm.

Returns

One of the values in the following table. (+Infinity denotes PositiveInfinity, -Infinity denotes NegativeInfinity, and NaN denotes NaN.)

anewBase 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

Examples

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

C#
// 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
*/

Remarks

This method calls into the underlying C runtime, and the exact result or valid input range may differ between different operating systems or architectures.

Applies to

.NET 9 and other versions
Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1
UWP 10.0

Log(Double)

Source:
Math.cs
Source:
Math.cs
Source:
Math.cs

Returns the natural (base e) logarithm of a specified number.

C#
public static double Log(double d);

Parameters

d
Double

The number whose logarithm is to be found.

Returns

One of the values in the following table.

d parameter Return value
Positive The natural logarithm of d; that is, ln d, or log e d
Zero NegativeInfinity
Negative NaN
Equal to NaNNaN
Equal to PositiveInfinityPositiveInfinity

Examples

The following example illustrates the Log method.

C#
using System;
public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      Console.WriteLine("  Evaluate this identity with selected values for X:");
      Console.WriteLine("                              ln(x) = 1 / log[X](B)");
      Console.WriteLine();

      double[] XArgs = { 1.2, 4.9, 9.9, 0.1 };

      foreach (double argX in XArgs)
      {
         // Find natural log of argX.
         Console.WriteLine("                      Math.Log({0}) = {1:E16}",
                           argX, Math.Log(argX));

         // Evaluate 1 / log[X](e).
         Console.WriteLine("             1.0 / Math.Log(e, {0}) = {1:E16}",
                           argX, 1.0 / Math.Log(Math.E, argX));
         Console.WriteLine();
      }
   }
}
// This example displays the following output:
//         Evaluate this identity with selected values for X:
//                                     ln(x) = 1 / log[X](B)
//
//                             Math.Log(1.2) = 1.8232155679395459E-001
//                    1.0 / Math.Log(e, 1.2) = 1.8232155679395459E-001
//
//                             Math.Log(4.9) = 1.5892352051165810E+000
//                    1.0 / Math.Log(e, 4.9) = 1.5892352051165810E+000
//
//                             Math.Log(9.9) = 2.2925347571405443E+000
//                    1.0 / Math.Log(e, 9.9) = 2.2925347571405443E+000
//
//                             Math.Log(0.1) = -2.3025850929940455E+000
//                    1.0 / Math.Log(e, 0.1) = -2.3025850929940455E+000

Remarks

Parameter d is specified as a base 10 number.

This method calls into the underlying C runtime, and the exact result or valid input range may differ between different operating systems or architectures.

See also

Applies to

.NET 9 and other versions
Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, 2.1
UWP 10.0