Is decibel a logarithmic scale
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It tells how many times a number must be multiplied by itself. The logarithm (abbreviated “log”) is an exponent. As can be imagined, the decibel is most useful when there are large differences between the values measured and when expressed in large numbers. In other words, find the ratio between the two values and convert that into a logarithm. More specifically, the dB is the log difference ratio of one value to another. The technique used is called the logarithm, and it is from this that the decibel has been defined.
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In acoustics the decibel is defined from the logarithmīecause the intensity of the loudest tolerable sound to the intensity of the faintest audible sound is approximately 100,000,000,000,000 (a hundred trillion) to 1, mathematicians have devised a technique to reduce writer’s cramp by reducing the size of the numbers involved. For example, in the financial world, the difference between $1,000 and $10,000,000 can be expressed as 40 decibels re: $1.00 (assuming that money is power, and the power formula is used). And because the decibel is defined mathematically it need not be limited to expressing ranges in the intensities of sounds only. In actuality, the decibel is defined mathematically to express a ratio. This idea may seem strange to many, but if one understands the decibel, the above is completely logical. For example, there is no reason why the decibel could not be used to express values in frequency, weight, height, distance, the national debt, or to any measurement that has two values of like units. However, acoustics has no sole claim to the use of this term. The decibel (dB) is most generally associated with sound levels, especially for those of us in acoustics.