2 raised to the power of 3 = 8
2 times itself three times = 8
2 * 2 * 2 = 8
2 is the base
3 is the exponent
8 is the result

logarithm is the reverse
what is the exponent?
Given the base and the result, what is the exponent?
what power of 2 gives 8?
what exponent of 2 gives 8?
to what power must I raise 2 to get 8?
$\log_2(8) = ?$

\begin{align} 2^3 &= 8 && \text{exponential equation} \\ \log_2(8) &= 3 && \text{logarithmic equation} \\ \\ 2^3 = 8 &\implies \log_2(8) = 3 \\ \end{align}

logarithmic scale
natural logs