The exponent implies the number of times the base of the power mustmultiply itself. In order for the base of the power to know how many times it should multiply itself, we must look at the exponent. The exponent denotes the power to which the base must be raised, that is, it determines how many times we will multiply the base of the power by itself. How can they remember it? It is called the exponent because (from the Latin exponentis) it makes visible or exposes how many times the base of the power will be multiplied. In reality, it not only exposes but also determines. How will we identify the exponent? The exponent appears as a small number that is placed in the upper right corner of the base of the power. It is not the main factor as the base is, therefore, its size is smaller and it appears discreetly to the right side and above it.
Choose the expression that is equal to the following:
\( 2^7 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2 \)
Practice more now
Let's see the following example: a4
Could you indicate what the exponent is? 4 of course! We can clearly see that the exponent is smaller and located at the top right corner of the base of the power.
The number of times that a) must be multiplied by itself is 4.
We can say that: a4=a×a×a×a In this example: a) must be multiplied by itself 4 times, as indicated by the exponent.
Exercises on the exponent of a power:
Exercise 1
Assignment
Solve the following exercise:
(4×9×11)a
Solution
We will use the formula
(abc)m=am×bm×cm
We solve accordingly
(4×9×11)a=4a×9a×11a=4a9a11a
Answer
4a9a11a
Join Over 30,000 Students Excelling in Math!
Endless Practice, Expert Guidance - Elevate Your Math Skills Today
Test your knowledge
Question 1
\( 11^2= \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
121
Question 2
\( 6^2= \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
36
Question 3
What is the missing exponent?
\( -7^{\square}=-49 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
2
Exercise 2
Prompt
(4x)y=
Solution
We multiply the two powers together.
4x×y=4xy
Answer
4xy
Exercise 3
Assignment
x−a=?
Solution
x−a=x0−a
xax0=
xa1
Answer
xa1
Do you know what the answer is?
Question 1
Which of the following is equivalent to the expression below?
\( \)\( 10,000^1 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 10,000\cdot1 \)
Question 2
Find the value of n:
\( 6^n=6\cdot6\cdot6 \)?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( n=3 \)
Question 3
Sovle:
\( 3^2+3^3 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
36
Exercise 4
2−5=?
Solution
2−5=20−5=
2520=
251=
We solve the exercise in the fraction according to the power
25=2×2×2×2×2=
We solve the multiplications from left to right
4×2×2×2=
8×2×2=
16×2=32
Answer
321
Exercise 5
Assignment
4−1=?
Solution
4−1=4140=
41
Answer
41
Check your understanding
Question 1
\( 5^3= \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 125 \)
Question 2
\( 7^3= \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 343 \)
Question 3
\( \sqrt{x}=2 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
4
Review Questions
What does the exponent in a number's power represent?
The exponent of a base is the number that is found in the upper right part of the base and it is the number that represents or indicates how many times the base should be multiplied by itself.
For example:
24=
In this power, the base is 2 and the exponent is 4, therefore the exponent indicates that the two should be multiplied by itself 4 times, that is:
24=2×2×2×2
When a power has no exponent, what number is it?
When a power does not explicitly have an exponent, that is, it lacks an exponent, we must assume that it has an exponent 1
Examples:
a=a1
3=31
7=71
Do you think you will be able to solve it?
Question 1
\( \sqrt{x}=6 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
36
Question 2
What is the answer to the following?
\( 3^2-3^3 \)
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( -18 \)
Question 3
Which of the following clauses is equal to 100?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 5^2\cdot2^2 \)
What is a power with base one?
In this case, the base will be one, and for this type of power the following holds true:
1m=1
This property tells me that the base one raised to any power will result in 1, since one is always multiplied several times, or in this case, the number of times indicated by the exponent.
Examples
13=1×1×1=1
15=1
18=1
Test your knowledge
Question 1
Which of the following represents the expression below?