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Logarithms and Musical Intervals

The document discusses logarithmic and exponential functions. It defines logarithms as the inverse function of exponential functions. The base b of a logarithm or exponential function can be any positive real number not equal to 1. It then outlines some key properties of logarithms, including that logarithms transform multiplication into addition and allow ratios to be represented as intervals in cents or semitones, which are useful for music.

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Ioana Iszlai
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86 views

Logarithms and Musical Intervals

The document discusses logarithmic and exponential functions. It defines logarithms as the inverse function of exponential functions. The base b of a logarithm or exponential function can be any positive real number not equal to 1. It then outlines some key properties of logarithms, including that logarithms transform multiplication into addition and allow ratios to be represented as intervals in cents or semitones, which are useful for music.

Uploaded by

Ioana Iszlai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER V

LOGARITHMS AND MUSICAL INTERVALS

The logarithm allows us to convert ratios into cents or semitones, which are the most
natural representations of intervals. We will review some basic facts. In this discussion, b
will be a positive number ƒ= 1 which will be called the base of the logarithm.
Exponents. If n is a positive integer, then bn is the n-fold product b · b · · · b, b−n = 1/bn ,
√n
and b1/n = b. These facts, together with the the rule of exponents
bst = (bs)t ,

give meaning to bx for all rational numbers x. For example, b−2/3 can be calculated as
. Σ1 .
1 1 3 1
b = b( −2)3 =
1
(−2)·(
3 ) 3
=
b b
2 2

Exponential Functions. The calculus concept of limit provides a definition bx for all
real numbers x in such a way that f(x) = bx is a continuous function. Its domain is the set
of real numbers R and, (since b =ƒ 1) its range is the set of positive real numbers R+ .

f : R → R+

For b > 1 the function is increasing, hence it gives a one-to-one correspondents between
the sets R and R+. The graph of f(x) = bx is:

y = bx

x
Typeset by AMS-TEX
1
2 V. LOGARITHMS AND MUSICAL INTERVALS

The number b is called the base of the exponential function. It will aleways be a positive
real number, ƒ= 1, and we generally take it to be > 1.

Logarithmic Functions. Since the function f( is one-to-one and onto, it has an inverse
function. The function g(x) = logb(x) is defined as the inverse function of f(x) = bx, that
is to say
f(g(x)) = x, which says blogb x = x

and
g(f(x)) = x, which says logb(bx) = x.
Thus the statement logb x = y means exactly the same as by = x. The domain of g(x) (=
the range of f(x)) is R+; the range of g(x) (= the domain of f(x)) is R.

g : R+ → R

The graph of g(x) = logb x is obtained by flipping the graph of f(x) = bx around the line
y = x. Again assuming b ≥ 1, we see that g(x) = logb x is an increasing, hence 1 to 1,
function whose graph is:

y y = logb x

The number b is called the base of the logarithm. Remember that it is always positive,ƒ= 1,
and we usually take it to be > 1.
If we recognize a number x as a power of b then we can say immediately what logb x is.
√ 1 1 √
For example, log3 9 = 2 (since 3 2 = 9) and logb b= (since b 2 = b).
2

Properties of Logarithms. In a certain sense, logarithms transform multiplication to


addition; this is why they are useful in understanding and measuring intervals. The basic
properties which underlie this are:

(L1) logb xy = logb x + logb y

(L2) x log x − log y


log=
by b b

(L3) logb(xp) = p logb x

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