Exponents are a shorthand way to show how many times a number, called the base, is multiplied to itself. A number with an exponent is said to be "raised to the power" of that exponent.
Example:
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 2 to the power of 4
2 4 = 16
2 is called the Base
4 is called the power, exponent or index
Exponential form | Words | Meaning |
101 | ten to the first power | 10 |
32 | three to the second power or three squared | 3 x 3 |
23 | two to the third power or two cubed | 2 x 2 x 2 |
54 | five to the fifth power | 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 |
xn | x to the nth power | x.x.x.x.x..........n times |
Important points:
- Any number raised to the zero power (except 0) equals 1.
Example: 30 = 1
- Any number raised to the power of one equals itself.
Example: 41 = 4
- To find 10 to the power of any number, simply add the same number of zeros after 1.
Example: 103 = 1000
Directions: Find answers to the following exponent questions. Also write at least ten more examples of your own.
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