DESCRIPTION AND USE OV THE TABLE. 2$ I 



Hence it appears, that the irtdex, or characteristic, of 

 ;iny logarithm is always less by i than the number of inter 

 gcr figures, which the natural number consists of ; or it is 

 £qual to the distance of the first or left hand figure from 

 the place of units, or first place of integers, whether on 

 the left, or on the right of it : and this index is constant- 

 ly to be placed on the left of the deciinal part of the 

 logarithm. 



When there are integers in the given number, the index 

 is always affirmative"-, but when there are no integers, the 

 index is negative, and is to be marked by a. short line 

 drawn before, or above, it. Thus, a number having • i, 

 2> 3i 4) 5j &c. integer places, the index of its logaritiim Is 

 Oj I, 2, 3, 4, &c. or I less than the number of those places. 



Aad a decimal fraction, having its first figure in the ist, 

 2d, 3l^4th, &c. place of decimals, has always — i, — 2, 

 — 3,*^^^— 4, &c. for the index of its logarithm. 



It may also be observed, that though the indices of 

 fractional quantities be negative, yet the decimal parts of 

 their logarithms are always afhrmative. 



I. To riND, IN THE Table, the Logarithm to any 

 Number.* 



I. If the number do net exceed iqo.ooo, the decimal part 

 of the logarithm is found, by inspection in the table, 

 standing against the given number, in this manner, viz. 

 in most tables, the first four figures of the given number 



are 



-* The Tables, considered as the best, are diose of Gardinrs. 

 in 4t6. first published ia the year 1742 ; of Dr. Hutton, In 

 8vo. first printed in 1785 ; of Taylor, in large 410. pviLlishcd 

 in 1792 ; and in France, dioss of Cai.li-t, the second edition 

 published In 1 795. 



