Performing Logarithmic Computations in R Programming - log(), log10(), log1p(), and log2() Functions

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025
log() function in R Language returns the natural logarithm (base-e logarithm) of the argument passed in the parameter.
Syntax: log(x) Parameter: x: Specified value. Returns: It returns the natural logarithm of the specified value, infinity for 0 and NaN for the negative value.
Example 1: Python3 
# R program to calculate log value 
print(log(1)) 
print(log(30)) 
print(log(0)) 
print(log(-44))
Output: 
[1] 0
[1] 3.401197
[1] -Inf
[1] NaN
Warning message:
In log(-44) : NaNs produced
logarithmic-function

log(x, base = y)

The log(x,base=y) is an inbuilt function in R which is used to compute the logarithm of the specified value to base y, infinity for 0, and NaN for the negative value.
Syntax: log(x, base = y) Parameters: x and base y. Returns: It returns the logarithm of the specified value to base y, infinity for 0, and NaN for the negative value.
Example 2: Python3 
# R program to calculate log value 
print(log(10,base=10)) 
print(log(16,base=2)) 
print(log(0,base=10)) 
print(log(-44,base=4))
Output: 
[1] 1
[1] 4
[1] -Inf
[1] NaN
Warning message:
In print(log(-44, base = 4)) : NaNs produced

log10() Function

The log10() is an inbuilt function in R which is used to compute the logarithm of the specified value to base 10, infinity for 0, and NaN for the negative value.
Syntax: log10(x) Parameters: x: Specified values. Returns: It returns the logarithm of the specified value to base 10,infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
Example 2: Python3 
# R program to calculate log value 
print(log10(1)) 
print(log10(10)) 
print(log10(0)) 
print(log10(-44))
Output: 
[1] 0
[1] 1
[1] -Inf
[1] NaN
Warning message:
In print(log10(-44)) : NaNs produced

log1p()

The log1p() is an inbuilt function in R which is used to calculate accurate natural logarithm of 1+x, where x is the specified value and throws infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
Syntax: log1p(x) Parameters: x: Specified values. Returns: It returns the accurate natural logarithm of 1+x, where x is the specified value and throws infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
Example: Python3 
# R program to illustrate 
# the use of log1p() method

# Getting the accurate natural 
# logarithm of 1 + x, where x is 
# the specified value and throws 
# infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
print(log1p(1))
print(log1p(10))
print(log1p(0))
print(log1p(-44))
Output: 
[1] 0.6931472
[1] 2.397895
[1] 0
[1] NaN
Warning message:
In log1p(-44) : NaNs produced

log2()

The log2() is an inbuilt function in R which is used to calculate the logarithm of x to base 2, where x is the specified value or throws infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
Syntax: log2(x) Parameters: x: Specified values. Returns: It returns the logarithm of x to base 2, where x is the specified value or throws infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
Example: Python3 
# R program to illustrate 
# the use of log2() method

# Getting the logarithm of x 
# to base 2, where x is the 
# specified value or throws 
# infinity for 0 and NaN for negative value.
print(log2(1))
print(log2(2))
print(log2(0))
print(log2(-44))
Output: 
[1] 0
[1] 1
[1] -Inf
[1] NaN
Warning message:
In print(log2(-44)) : NaNs produced
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