Logarithmic number system Logarithmic number system A logarithmic number system (LNS) is an arithmetic system used for representing real numbers in computer and digital hardware, especially for digital signal processing. In an LNS, a number, formula_1, is represented by the logarithm, formula_2, of its absolute value as follows: where formula_4 is a bit denoting the sign of formula_1 (formula_6 if formula_7 and formula_8 if formula_9). The number formula_2 is represented by a binary word which usually is in the two's complement format. An LNS can be considered as a floating-point number with the significand being always equal to 1 and a non-integer exponent.
Binary number positional notation. The residents of the island of Mangareva in French Polynesia were using a hybrid binary-decimal system before 1450. Slit drums with binary tones are used to encode messages across Africa and Asia. Sets of binary combinations similar to the I Ching have also been used in traditional African divination systems such as Ifá as well as in medieval Western geomancy. In the late 13th century Ramon Llull had the ambition to account for all wisdom in every branch of human knowledge of the time. For that purpose he developed a general method or ‘Ars generalis’ based on binary