The equation \log_b(a) = c expresses the relationship between three numbers: the base b , the result c , and the argument a . It means that b raised to the power of c equals a . In simpler terms, if you know the base and the result, you can find the argument by calculating b^c . For example, if b = 2 , c = 3 , and a is unknown, then \log_2(a) = 3 implies that 2^3 = a . Thus, a equals 8. This concept is fundamental in mathematics, particularly in fields like algebra and exponential growth.