log_a (b) [in words - log a of b], is like asking - what power of a equals b. For example: log_10 (100) = 2 because 10^2 = 100 log_2 (16) = 4 because 2^4 = 16
The main use for a logarithm is to find an exponent. If N = a^x Then if we are told to find that exponent of the base (b) that will equal that value of N then the notation is: log N ....b And the...