How about "exponentiate c logA" ? On Thursday 06 May 2010 16:08:13 Dan Asimov wrote:

I wrote (mildly edited):

<< When we write a base A to a power c to get the number A^c we say we "exponentiate A to the power c".

I seek an appropriate verb so the the power is the object, reversing the emphasis:

I.e., we use A *to do what* to c ???

Any help will be appreciated.

A friend has pointed out that the word "exponentiate" already has this meaning, and that the default base is e.

The online OED confirms this:

<< To raise e or some other base (BASE n.1 18) to the power of; to subject to exponentiation

It's not entirely clear to me what's the best preposition to use when the base is not e and so must be mentioned.

If it were a logarithm, to get log_b(x) from x is standardly "take the logarithm to the base b of x", or just "take the base-b logarithm of x".

In the present case, maybe "from" is appropriate -- as in "exponentiate c from the base A" ?

--Dan

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