Graph Paper · No. 16
Logarithmic Graph Paper
Logarithmic paper for log plots and engineering charts
Choosing and using this paper
Choose which axis needs multiplicative spacing
The default is Y-axis semi-log paper: x has ten equal intervals, while y spans four decades. One consistent labeling is 1, 10, 100, 1000, 10000 from bottom to top. Choose it when the vertical values span several powers of ten and the horizontal variable needs equal steps.
Read the spacing
Within any decade, 2 is about 30.1% and 5 about 69.9% of the distance from 1 to 10. These marks are not equally spaced. Reuse the same pattern for 20 and 50 between 10 and 100. Write axis values and units before plotting.
Check the data range
An ordinary real logarithmic axis cannot include zero or negative values. Do not treat the bottom or left edge as zero. Choose a linear axis for values that cross zero; change the number of decades in the editor when the positive range is wider. See the full worked guide.
Questions about this format
- Can the axis start at zero?
The linear axis may include zero. An ordinary logarithmic axis must stay positive; its first boundary could be 1 or another positive power of ten, but not zero.
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