The LN function in Excel is a trigonometric function used to calculate the natural logarithm of a number. The LN function has many practical applications, helping users solve logarithmic problems quickly and accurately. Let’s explore the syntax, usage, and some applications of the LN function in Excel with FPT Shop.
Definition of the LN function in Excel
What is the natural logarithm?
To understand what the LN function in Excel is, let’s first understand the concept of the natural logarithm.
The natural logarithm is the inverse function of the exponential function with the base of the constant e. The exponential function with the base of e is a function that grows exponentially. The natural logarithm can be understood as if a number a raised to the power of a number b equals a number x, then the natural logarithm of x is b.
For example, if a = 2 and b = 3, then 2^3 = 8. Therefore, the natural logarithm of 8 is 3.
What is the LN function?
The LN function in Excel is a trigonometric function in mathematics, used to calculate the natural logarithm of a number quickly and accurately. The syntax of the LN function:
=LN(number)
Where: Number is the numerical value for which you want to calculate the natural logarithm.
Examples of using the LN function:
=LN(10) => Result: 2.3025850929940456
=LN(2) => Result: 0.6931471805599453
Detailed instructions on how to use and apply the LN function in Excel
Calculate the natural logarithm of a number
This is the most basic application of the LN function. To use the LN function to calculate the natural logarithm of a number, you just need to use the following formula:
=LN(number)
Where, number is the numerical value for which you want to calculate the natural logarithm.
For example, to calculate the natural logarithm of 10, you can use the following formula: =LN(10)
The result is: 2.3025850929940456
Step 1: In the Excel file that contains the data > enter the formula =LN(B3) or = LN(10)
Step 2: Press Enter to get the result.
Calculate the rate of growth of a number over time
To calculate the rate of growth of a number over time, you can use the following formula:
=LN(number2) – LN(number1)
Where, number1 is the initial value and number2 is the value after a certain period of time.
For example, if the value of a number is 100 in 2022 and the value of that number is 120 in 2023. To calculate the rate of growth of that number within one year, you can use the following formula:
=LN(120) – LN(100)
The result is: 0.182321557
Calculate the percentage growth rate of a number
To calculate the percentage growth rate of a number, you can use the following formula:
=100 * (LN(number2) – LN(number1)) / LN(number1)
Where, number1 is the initial value and number2 is the value after a certain period of time.
For example, if the value of a number is 100 in 2022 and the value of that number is 120 in 2023. To calculate the percentage growth rate of that number within one year, you can use the following formula:
=100 * (LN(120) – LN(100)) / LN(100)
The result is: 3.9591
Notes when using the LN function:
- The LN function only calculates the natural logarithm, not logarithms with other bases.
- The number value must be a positive number. If the number is negative or equal to zero, the LN function will return the #NUM! error.
Summary
In this article, we have learned about the LN function in Excel, which is a trigonometric function used to calculate the natural logarithm of a number. The LN function has many practical applications, helping users solve logarithmic problems quickly and accurately.
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