The logarithm is defined as the operation that undoes exponentiation: for a>0,a=1, y=logax⟺ay=x (for x>0) — the logarithmic form and exponential form of the same fact, convertible into each other directly by matching base-to-base and exponent-to-log-value. The domain of logax is (0,∞) and its range is all of R; for the natural base e, logex is written lnx.
Three laws let logarithms convert products, quotients and powers into sums, differences and multiples: loga(bc)=logab+logac (product rule), logacb=logab−logac (quotient rule), and logabc=clogab (power rule) — repeatedly misapplying these (e.g. writing log(x+y)=logx+logy, which is false) is the single most common logarithm error. A logarithm in one base converts to any other base b via the change of base formula logax=logbalogbx; a special case is the reciprocal identity logax=logxa1. …