Definition:Common Logarithm/Also known as

Common Logarithm: Also known as

Common logarithms are sometimes referred to as Briggsian logarithms or Briggs's logarithms, for Henry Briggs.

In elementary textbooks and on most pocket calculators, $\log$ is assumed to mean $\log_{10}$.

This ambiguous notation is not recommended, particularly since $\log$ often means base $e$ in more advanced textbooks.

Sources

• 1968: Murray R. Spiegel: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables ... (previous) ... (next): $\S 7$: Common Logarithms and Antilogarithms
• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
• 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Briggsian logarithm
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $10$
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Briggsian logarithm
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Briggsian logarithm