LOG Function (OpenOffice Calc)
The LOG function in OpenOffice Calc returns the logarithm of a number to a specified base. Learn syntax, domain rules, examples, and best practices.
Compatibility
▾| Excel | ✔ |
| Gnumeric | ✔ |
| Google_sheets | ✔ |
| Libreoffice | ✔ |
| Numbers | ✔ |
| Onlyoffice | ✔ |
| Openoffice | ✔ |
| Wps | ✔ |
| Zoho | ✔ |
What the LOG Function Does ▾
- Computes logarithms with any base
- Supports base‑10, base‑2, natural logs, and custom bases
- Useful for scaling, data normalization, and scientific modeling
- Works across sheets
- Pairs naturally with POWER, LN, and EXP
LOG is ideal when you need custom logarithmic transformations.
Syntax ▾
LOG(number; base)
Arguments:
- number — A positive numeric value
- base — A positive numeric value (≠ 1)
If base is omitted, Calc defaults to 10 (common logarithm).
Domain Rules ▾
| Input | Valid? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| number > 0 | ✔ | Required |
| number = 0 | ✘ | Undefined |
| number < 0 | ✘ | Undefined |
| base > 0 and base ≠ 1 | ✔ | Required |
| base = 1 | ✘ | Undefined |
| base < 0 | ✘ | Undefined |
Mathematically:
[ \log_b(x) \text{ is defined only for } x > 0 \text{ and } b > 0, b \neq 1 ]
Basic Examples ▾
Log base 10 (default)
=LOG(100)
Result: 2
Log base 2
=LOG(8; 2)
Result: 3
Log base e (natural log)
=LOG(A1; EXP(1))
Equivalent to LN(A1).
Log using cell references
=LOG(A1; B1)
Advanced Examples ▾
Change of base formula
=LOG(A1; B1)
Equivalent to:
=LN(A1) / LN(B1)
Logarithmic scaling for charts
=LOG(A1; 10)
Convert exponential form to linear
Given:
[ y = a \cdot b^x ]
Linearize:
=LOG(y; b)
Solve for exponent
[ x = \log_b(y) ]
Calc:
=LOG(y; b)
Solve for base
[ b = y^{1/x} ]
Calc:
=POWER(y; 1/x)
LOG across sheets
=LOG(Sheet1.A1; 2)
Logarithmic normalization
=LOG(A1 + 1; 10)
Logarithmic regression (manual components)
=LOG(Y1:Y10; 10)
Confirm with Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
Common Errors and Fixes ▾
LOG returns Err:502 (Invalid argument)
Occurs when:
- number ≤ 0
- base ≤ 0
- base = 1
- Input is text
- A malformed reference is used
LOG returns Err:503 (Numeric overflow)
Occurs when:
- number is extremely large
- base is extremely small
- Result exceeds Calc’s numeric limits
LOG returns unexpected results
Possible causes:
- Using percentages incorrectly (5% vs 0.05)
- Negative or zero values from formulas
- Base not what you intended
- Text numbers not converted to numeric
LOG ignores values you expected it to include
LOG ignores:
- Text numbers (
"123") - Empty cells
- Logical values
- Errors
LOG includes values you expected it to ignore
LOG includes:
- Dates
- Times
- Numeric results of formulas
Err:508 — Missing parenthesis
Usually caused by:
- Missing
) - Using commas instead of semicolons
Best Practices ▾
- Use LOG for custom‑base logarithms
- Use LN for natural logs
- Use LOG10 for base‑10 logs (or LOG with omitted base)
- Validate inputs to avoid negative or zero values
- Convert imported text numbers to real numbers
- Use named ranges for cleaner formulas
- Use LOG for scaling, normalization, and scientific modeling
LOG + POWER give you full control over exponential and logarithmic transformations — perfect for engineering, analytics, and scientific workflows.