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Re: Re: Log[x]//TraditionalForm

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg96120] Re: [mg96062] Re: [mg96049] Log[x]//TraditionalForm
• From: Andrzej Kozlowski <akoz at mimuw.edu.pl>
• Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 04:41:47 -0500 (EST)
• References: <200902031132.GAA00303@smc.vnet.net> <200902041018.FAA18533@smc.vnet.net>

Tthe notation ln seems to have become essentially extinct since the  
disappearance of slide rules. It fact, was almost never used in books  
on analysis or calculus aimed at mathematicians. I have just checked and
Dieudonne, Foundations of Modern Analysis, published in 1969 uses log,  
Apostol, Calculus, published in 1967 uses log, Rudin, "Principles of  
Modern Analysis", published in 1964 uses L after remarking that "the  
usual notation is, of corse, log"), Rudin "Real and complex analysis",  
published in 1970 uses (naturally) log. Of 5 books that I have looked  
at only one, Fichtenholtz - A course of differential and integral  
calculus (in Russian) published in 1966 uses ln, which is presumably  
because it was aimed at engineers, who in those days still used slide  
rules (at least in Russia). (In spite of that, it is still a rather  
good book).

Andrzej Kozlowski


On 4 Feb 2009, at 11:18, Murray Eisenberg wrote:

> No, in mathematics log x or log(x) is a perfectly acceptable, perhaps
> the predominant, notation for the base-e, natural logarithm.
>
> In calculus books, ln x or ln(x) is typically used for that --  so as
> not to confuse students who were taught that log means the base-10
> logarithm.
>
> O.T.: P.S. M.I.T. has an all-male a cappella singing group named the
> "Logarhythms".
>
> slawek wrote:
>> The natural logarithm function in "traditional form" in Mathematica  
>> (version
>> 6.0.2.0)
>>
>>  Log[x]//TraditionalForm
>>  log(x)
>>
>> This is "not a bug but a feature", but in mathematics the natural  
>> logarithm
>> is just ln(x) or even ln x.
>> The true traditional notation use log for decimal logarithm, ln for  
>> natural
>> logarithm, lb for binary logarithm, and
>> log_{b}x  for logarithm with base b. Unfortunatelly in most computer
>> programs (see FORTRAN) LOG
>> stands for natural logarithm (an exception is Pascal).
>>
>> Nevertheless, how to force to use ln(x) instead log(x) ?
>>
>> The brute way is use /.Log->ln//TraditionalForm.
>>
>> Is any more elegant way to do this?
>>
>> slawek
>>
>>
>
> -- 
> Murray Eisenberg                     murray at math.umass.edu
> Mathematics & Statistics Dept.
> Lederle Graduate Research Tower      phone 413 549-1020 (H)
> University of Massachusetts                413 545-2859 (W)
> 710 North Pleasant Street            fax   413 545-1801
> Amherst, MA 01003-9305
>

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Re: Re: Log[x]//TraditionalForm
    • From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>

• References:
  • Log[x]//TraditionalForm
    • From: "slawek" <human@site.pl>
  • Re: Log[x]//TraditionalForm
    • From: Murray Eisenberg <murray@math.umass.edu>