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The natural logarithm, written mathematically as $\ln$ , is a specific case of the more familiar logarithms, denoted mathematically as $\log$ .

All logarithms must have a base value. If the base is not specified, as in the case of $\log(100)$ , the base can be assumed to be ten (the common logarithm). The same holds true of the natural logarithm, which has an inherently defined base of value $e\approx2.71828\ldots$ (Euler's number), which recognized by the form the function takes: $\ln$ .

• Common Logarithm: $\log(x)\equiv\lg(x)\equiv\log_{10}(x)$
• Arbitrary Base Logarithm: $\log_b(x)$
• Natural Logarithm: $\ln(x)\equiv\log_e(x)$

The natural logarithm $\ln$ cannot have any other base specified. The function $\log$ , on the other hand, can have any base value other than 1 or 0. And, as already stated, if log is left without a subscripted base, its assumed base value is ten.

The natural logarithm, because of its base value, $e$ , has specific properties noted in the study of calculus, which make it the ideal base value for any logarithm. Non-Euler-based logarithms do not share these properties.

Some engineers, however, use their own nomenclature for the natural logarithm which is ambiguous and easily mistaken for the common logarithm: $\log(x)\equiv\ln(x)$ .

## Definitions

There are various ways of giving a formal definition for the natural logarithm.

One of them is to define it is using definite intergrals in the following way:

$\ln(x)=\int\limits_1^x\dfrac{1}{u}\,du$