What Tells How Many Times a Factor Is Multiplied?

An exponent tells how many times a factor is multiplied.

Understanding Exponents

According to the provided definition, an exponent "is a number that records how many times the number to which it is attached occurs as a factor in a multiplication." In simpler terms, the exponent indicates how many times a base number is multiplied by itself.

Examples of Exponents

Here are some examples to illustrate how exponents work:

• 2³ = 2 2 2 = 8

  • Here, the base is 2 and the exponent is 3. This means 2 is multiplied by itself 3 times.

• *5² = 5 5 = 25**

  • Here, the base is 5 and the exponent is 2. This means 5 is multiplied by itself 2 times.

• *10⁴ = 10 10 10 10 = 10,000**

  • Here, the base is 10 and the exponent is 4. This means 10 is multiplied by itself 4 times.

Key Takeaways

• The exponent is always written as a superscript to the base number.
• The exponent indicates the number of times the base is used as a factor in the multiplication.