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LN

The LN formula returns the natural logarithm of a given value. The natural logarithm is the logarithm to the base e, where e is an irrational number approximately equal to 2.71828. The formula is commonly used in mathematical and scientific calculations.

Usage

Use the LN formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter:

=LN(value)
Parameters:
  1. value (required):
    The value for which you want to calculate the natural logarithm. Must be a positive number or reference to a cell containing a positive number.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the LN formula in Google Sheets.

Calculating growth rate

By using the LN formula with a set of starting and ending values, you can calculate the growth rate of a quantity over a certain period of time.

Calculating compound interest

The LN formula can be used to calculate the amount of compound interest earned on an investment over a given period of time.

Normalizing data

By finding the natural logarithm of a set of data points, you can normalize the data and create a more even distribution for analysis.

Common Mistakes

LN not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the LN Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect argument type

One common mistake is that users pass an argument that is not a positive number to the LN formula. This will result in an error. To correct this, ensure that the argument passed to the LN formula is a positive number.

Missing argument

Another common mistake is forgetting to pass an argument to the LN formula. This will also result in an error. Make sure to provide a value for the LN formula to calculate.

Using a wrong function

Sometimes users may mistake the LN formula for another function, such as LOG, which has a different base. This can lead to incorrect results. Make sure to use the correct function for the calculation you need.

Incorrect syntax

Users may mistakenly use incorrect syntax when using the LN formula, such as forgetting to include the closing parenthesis. Double-check the syntax of your formula to ensure it is correct.

Not understanding the result

Another mistake users can make is not understanding what the result of the LN formula represents. The LN formula returns the natural logarithm of a given value. Make sure to understand what this means in the context of your calculation.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to LN or are often used with it in a formula:

  • LOG

    The LOG function in Google Sheets returns the logarithm of a given number to a specified base. This function is commonly used in mathematical and financial calculations.

  • EXP

    The EXP function returns the result of e raised to the power of a given exponent. This function is commonly used in mathematical and scientific calculations.

  • POWER

    The POWER formula is a mathematical function that calculates a number raised to the power of another number. It returns the result of a base number raised to an exponent.

  • SQRT

    The SQRT function returns the positive square root of a given number. It can be used to find the length of a side of a right triangle, or to calculate standard deviation. The function takes one argument, the value or reference to the cell containing the number for which you want to find the square root.

Learn More

You can learn more about the LN Google Sheets function on Google Support.