About dB

In communication theory, we spend a lot of time manipulating widely varying signal strength values. We also deal with noninteger powers and roots of numbers. The use of decibel (dB) forms of numbers and equations greatly simplifies dealing with both of these considerations. Any number expressed in dB is logarithmic, which makes it convenient to compare values that may differ by many orders of magnitude. (Note that numbers in non-dB form are called linear to differentiate them from the logarithmic dB numbers).