5xN is easier to remember than 16xN on account of 5 being the smaller number.
2^n is logarithmic whereas 5*n is linear. Arguably, logarithms are not too complicated, even if linear seems to be a degree easier, seeing that the decimal system is also logarithmic as that's a denser representation.
edit: how to enter an aterisk as the multiplication operator sign
By that logic, shouldn't it be easier to remember 7 * n than 10 * n, because 7 is the smaller number?
> 2^n is logarithmic
Also, as Jtsummers (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10973381) points out, the function `n \mapsto 2^n` is exponential: its growth is significantly faster, not significantly slower, than exponential.
5 * N
5*N
5*N is easier to remember than 16*N
Versus
5 * N is easier to remember than 16 * N
And I think the word you want is exponential, not logarithmic. Related to each other, since exponential expressions become linear on a logarithmic scale, but exponential describes the growth of 2^n better.