Essay reframes logarithms as unit-like ratios using a “baseless logarithm” abstraction to make bases easier to understand

The article proposes treating log N as an abstract object rather than an incomplete notation, with ordinary based logarithms represented as ratios such as log N divided by log 2. This lets bases function like units, so writing a logarithm in bits becomes analogous to converting meters to kilometers or bits to bytes.

The framing highlights how mathematical notation can obscure otherwise intuitive ideas, especially for concepts taught as fixed rules rather than unit conversions. If adopted in education or explanatory writing, this view could make logarithms feel less arbitrary and connect them more naturally to information theory and asymptotic analysis.