Exponents
As you learn more about algebraic expressions you will start to see exponents
What are exponents?
Multiplication is a short way to record repeated addition.
For example, it is quicker to write 4 × 5 than 5 + 5 + 5 + 5.
The way to shorten a repeated multiplication is to use a power.
For example, 2^4 means 2 × 2 × 2 × 2;
2 is multiplied by itself 4 times. It is a power since it is the product of a number multiplied by itself.
The 2 is the base. The 4 is the exponent and 2^4 is the power.
In this lesson, the exponent will be represent with the symbol ^ So, the above power is also written as 2^4
Powers of whole numbers grow very quickly. For example,
3^4 = 81, but
3^5 = 243 and
3^6 = 729. [Remember, 3^6 does not mean 3x6 but 3x3x3x3x3x3]
Try this...
Write each power as a multiplication.
a) 3^4 b) 3^6 c) 4^6 d) 2^10 e) 4^4
Check your answers by clicking on the arrow here--------------------->
a) 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
b) 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
c) 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4
d) 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
e) 4 x 4 x 4 x 4