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Exponents are shorthand for multiplication:
5 x 5= 52 and 5 x 5 x 5 = 53.
The "exponent" stands for however many
times the number is being multiplied.
The number that's being multiplied is called the "base".
This process of using exponents is called "raising
to a power", where the exponent is the "power".
When we see "53" we say "five, raised to the third power".
There are some simple rules about exponents to remember:
1. Any number raised to the 0 power is 1.
2. Any number raised to the 1 power is itself.
3. The exponent or power is how many times we
multiply the number by itself.
4. To do any power of 10, just write a
number 1 and then as many zeroes as the power. For instance, 103
is 1 followed by three zeroes, or 1,000.
| Simplify: |
|
Answer |
| 40 |
1 |
1 |
| 81 |
8 |
8 |
| 27 |
2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
x 2 |
128 |
| 92 |
9 x 9 |
81 |
| Powers of Ten |
|
100 |
1
(see
how our rule for tens works here. Write the 1 and then no zeroes
after it) |
 |
|
101 |
10 |
|
102 |
100 |
|
103 |
1,000 |
 |
|
104 |
10,000 |
|
105 |
100,000 |
|
106 |
1,000,000 |
More Power to You!
Did you know that how
computers work is built on powers? Yup, computers respond to powers of
2! You can use all the powers of 2 from 20 to 27
to tell computers what to do.
Let's Practice
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