Here's what you have to keep saying to yourself until it carves a new
groove into your brain and you don't have to think about it any more:
" log(x) = the power that 10 must be raised to
in order to wind up with 'x'. "
You said 2.36 = -log(x)
Multiply each side by -1 : log(x) = -2.36
Now translate it into the mantra:
The power that 10 must be raised to
in order to wind up with 'x' is -2.36 .
Do you see what that means ? ! ?
If the power that 10 must be raised to in order to wind up with 'x'
is -2.36, then all you have to do to find 'x' is raise 10 to the power
of -2.36 ! You can do that with about 4 clicks on your calculator.
10^(-2.36) = 0.004365... (rounded)
And if you don't quite believe it, it's even easier to check it.
Punch " 0.004365 " into your calculator, and then touch the
" 10^x " key, and something very close to -2.36 will pop up
right there, before your wondrous eyes.
