Linear vs. logarithmic scales.

Human hearing is better measured on a logarithmic scale than a linear scale. On a linear scale, a change between two values is perceived on the basis of the difference between the values:

• e.g., a change from 1 to 2 would be perceived as the same increase as from 4 to 5.

On a logarithmic scale, a change between two values is perceived on the basis of the ratio of the two values:

• e.g., a change from 1 to 2 would be perceived as the same increase as a change from 4 to 8.

Figure 1: Moving one unit to the right increment by 1 on the linear scale and multiplies by a factor of 10 on the logarithmic scale.