Logarithm Notation (Reading the symbols)

The notation $\log_b(x)$ means "the power you raise $b$ to get $x$." The small number $b$ is the base, and $x$ is the argument.

For example, $\log_2(16) = 4$ because $2^4 = 16$. And $\log_{10}(1000) = 3$ because $10^3 = 1000$. The base tells you what number you're repeatedly multiplying.

In computer science, you'll mostly see base $2$ (binary logarithm). That's because computers work in binary and algorithms often split problems in half.