1. A logarithm expresses the power to which a base number must be raised to equal the value of the logarithm. Logarithms allow for easier calculation of multiplication and exponential functions by converting them to addition. 2. Logarithmic rulers allow for multiplication calculations to be performed as additions by taking advantage of the logarithmic property that log(ab) = log(a) + log(b). 3. Common logarithms have a base of 10 and are useful in many scientific and engineering contexts for condensing and working with very large and small numbers.