Order of Magnitude, also known as “Magnitude Order,” is a mathematical concept used to indicate the scale of a given number or measurement. The concept is based on the logarithmic scale, and the Order of Magnitude of a number is the power of ten used to express that number (Miles, 2018). For example, the Order of Magnitude of 10,000 is 4, since 10,000 is equal to 10 to the power of 4.
Order of Magnitude is used to express the size of a given number, or the change in a given number, without having to state the exact number (Klein, 2015). This allows one to quickly gauge the scale of a given number or measurement without having to know the exact value. For example, if a scientist were to say that the number of bacteria in a given sample had increased by an Order of Magnitude, this would indicate that the number of bacteria had increased by a factor of 10.
Order of Magnitude can also be used to compare two different numbers without having to know the exact values of the numbers. For example, if one were to compare the Order of Magnitude of a number n with the Order of Magnitude of a number m, they could determine the relative size of the two numbers without knowing the exact values of the numbers. In this case, if n had a higher Order of Magnitude than m, this would indicate that n was larger than m.
Order of Magnitude is a useful concept in many fields, including engineering, physics, and computing. In engineering, the Order of Magnitude is used to determine the relative size of a given measurement. In physics, the Order of Magnitude is used to compare the relative size of two different measurements. In computing, the Order of Magnitude is used to compare the size of two different datasets.
Overall, Order of Magnitude is an important concept in a variety of fields. It allows one to quickly gauge the relative size of a given number or measurement without having to know the exact value. The concept is based on the logarithmic scale, and the Order of Magnitude of a number is the power of ten used to express that number.
References
Klein, S. (2015). Basics of Engineering: Order of Magnitude. Retrieved from https://www.brighthubengineering.com/basics-of-engineering/44259-order-of-magnitude/
Miles, J. (2018). Order of Magnitude: Definition & Examples. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/order-of-magnitude-definition-examples.html