Exponent Basics


Exponents show repeated multiplication.
3 × 3 × 3 × 3   =   34
Standard form Exponent form, where 3 is the base and 4 is the exponent
The exponent shows you how many times the base is multiplied by itself.
So instead of writing 3 × 3 × 3 × 3, we can write 34.   Read: 3 to the power of 4.
IMPORTANT!!
Except for zero, any number to the zero power is 1.
  50 = 1     6930 = 1     10,0000 = 1  


Useful terms to know.

ExpressionRead as...
  5 = 51  five to the first power
  5 * 5 = 52  five to the second power, or five squared    
  5 * 5 * 5= 53  five to the third power, or five cubed
  5 * 5 * 5 * 5= 54      five to the fourth power


Example 1: Standard form

Translate the exponent into an equivalent multiplication sentence. Example 32 is '3*3'.
a.   e2  
b.   m0  
c.   85  


Example 2: Exponent form

Write as an exponent. Write 32 as 3^2.
a.   a*a*a*a  
b.   6*6*6  
c.   20*20*20*20*20*20  

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