def METHOD_NAME(bin_count, minimum=None, maximum=None):
    minimum = log10(float(minimum))
    maximum = log10(float(maximum))
    min_value = int(floor(minimum))
    max_value = int(ceil(maximum))
    log_bin_count = max_value - min_value
    if log_bin_count < bin_count:
        next_bin_count = log_bin_count * 2
        if bin_count - log_bin_count > next_bin_count - bin_count:
            log_bin_count = next_bin_count
        else:
            log_bin_count = bin_count
    return 10 ** numpy.linspace(minimum, maximum, log_bin_count)