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1 decibel of increase of sound level is the smallest increase (or decrease) in level that may be discerned by the average person. It corresponds to an increase in level of about 25%. [The 10th root of 10 is another similar expression.] The decibel was initially used to measure changes in signal level in a line. Named after Alexander Graham Bell. One Bell - 10dB - sounds twice as loud to those same average individuals.
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ProfessorQuite simply, it doesn't work that way! Decibels are used to describe the RATIO between two magnitudes - often, between two powers; in such a way that 10 decibels represent a ratio of 1:10, 20 decibels represent a ratio of 1:100, 30 decibels represent a ratio of 1:1000, etc. In other words, it's a logarithmic scale. It's also used as an absolute scale for things like sound intensity or the power of an electrical signal; in that case, because of the way decibels are defined, a reference point must be chosen.
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You multiply or dividing the decibels by the decibels?
There is no point in doing either one of these. A decibel, being the log of a ratio, is added to or subtracted from another decibel.
What is one tenth Bel?
one tenth Bel = 1 deciBel = 1 dB
What is one tenth of a bel?
A unit of power or intensity equal to one tenth of a bel is a decibel.
Where did the word decibel come from?
Deci is one-tenth. Bel is for Alexander Graham Bell.
What type of scale is the decibel scale?
The decibel scale is a logarithmic scale. Scroll down to related links and look at "Decibel - Wikipedia" and "Sound level meter - Wikipedia".
