Powers and Exponents

When a number or letter is multiplied by itself repeatedly, the result is called a power of that number or letter.

• The number or letter being multiplied is called the base.

• The number of times it is multiplied is called the exponent or power.

Write in exponent form:

1. m × m × n × n × n × n = m²n⁴
2. 3 × b × b × b × b × p × p × p = 3b⁴p³

Write in expanded form:

1. 3p⁴ = 3 × p × p × p × p
2. a³m⁴n² = a × a × a × m × m × m × m × n × n 

• A power shows how many times a number is multiplied by itself.

• The base is the number being multiplied.

• The exponent tells how many times the base is multiplied.

• x⁰ = 1 and $x$.

• Powers simplify writing long multiplications.