Logarithm Table
1. Statement of the problem.
Find $\log_{10}(125.7)$ using logarithm tables.
2. Formula and important rules.
For common logarithms we express a number as characteristic plus mantissa.
The key relation is
$$\log_{10} N = C + M$$
where $C$ is the characteristic (an integer determined by the order of magnitude) and $M$ is the mantissa (a positive fractional part found in the tables).
When a number is written as $N = a \times 10^{n}$ with $1 \le a < 10$, then
$$\log_{10} N = n + \log_{10} a$$
Use the mantissa table for $a$ and add the characteristic $n$.
3. Normalize the number.
Write $125.7 = 1.257 \times 10^{2}$.
So
$$\log_{10}(125.7) = 2 + \log_{10}(1.257)
$$
4. Use the tables to find the mantissa.
Look up the mantissa for $1.257$ in the log table by interpolating between nearby entries.
From the table $1.250$ has mantissa $0.09691$ and $1.260$ has mantissa $0.10037$.
Interpolate linearly because the table spacing is $0.01$.
Compute the interpolation as
$$M \approx 0.09691 + (1.257-1.250)\times \frac{0.10037-0.09691}{0.01}$$
Evaluate the arithmetic step by step.
$1.257-1.250 = 0.007$
$0.10037-0.09691 = 0.00346$
Divide by $0.01$ to get $0.346$ and multiply by $0.007$ to get $0.002422$.
So the mantissa is
$M \approx 0.09691 + 0.002422 = 0.099332$.
5. Combine characteristic and mantissa.
Thus
$$\log_{10}(125.7) \approx 2 + 0.099332 = 2.099332$$
Round as desired, for example to five decimal places:
$\log_{10}(125.7) \approx 2.09933$.
6. Final answer.
Using logarithm tables and linear interpolation,
$\log_{10}(125.7) \approx 2.09933$.