Logarithms are most succinctly described as a shortcut in mathematics. For example, multiplication is basically a shortcut for addition and exponents are a shortcut for multiplication.

D. B. A. Epstein, V. Markovic, The Logarithmic Spiral: A Counterexample to the K = 2 Conjecture, Annals of Mathematics, Second Series, Vol. 161, No. 2 (Mar., 2005 ...

This monthly journal, begun in 1950, is devoted entirely to research in pure and applied mathematics, principally to the publication of original papers of moderate length. A section called Shorter ...