We've already seen that 5^2 means 5\cdot 5, and that 5^3 means 5\cdot 5 \cdot 5. We can extend this to have any number in the exponent, for example 5^{\color{blue}7} = \underbrace{5\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5 \cdot 5}_{\large{\color{blue}7} \textrm{ copies of } 5}.

The exponent ({\color{blue}7}) says how many times the base (5) is multiplied by itself.

Recall that 5^2 is said as "five squared" and that 5^3 is "five cubed." We don't have special names for larger exponents. However, we can say 5^7 in several different ways:

  • "five raised to the seventh power,"

  • "five raised to the power seven,"

  • "five to the seventh power,"

  • "five to the power seven."

Raising to the power of one is special. Any number raised to the first power is itself. For example, 5^{\color{blue}1} means one copy of 5, so 5^{\color{blue}1} = 5.

FLAG

Express 7 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7\times 7 using an exponent.

EXPLANATION

The number 7 is multiplied by itself 6 times, so we have

\underbrace{7 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7\times 7}_{\large{\color{blue}6} \textrm{ copies of } 7} = 7^{\color{blue}6}.

Therefore, the answer is 7^6.

FLAG

$3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3=$

a
$3^5$
b
$279$
c
$3^6$
d
$3^4$
e
$81$

$0.9 \times 0.9 \times 0.9 \times 0.9 \times 0.9 \times 0.9 \times 0.9=$

a
$0.9^7$
b
$6 \times 0.9$
c
$7^{0.9}$
d
$0.9^6$
e
$7 \times 0.9$

$\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)\times\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)\times\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)\times\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)=$

a
$\left( -\dfrac{2}{3} \right)^4$
b
$\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^1$
c
$4\times\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)$
d
$\left(-\dfrac{3}{2}\right)^4$
e
$4^{-2/3}$

Evaluate 3^4.

EXPLANATION

The expression 3^4 means 3 multiplied by itself 4 times. So we have

\begin{align} 3^4 &=\left(3\times 3\right) \times \left(3\times 3\right) \\[5pt] &=9\times 9 \\[5pt] &=81. \end{align}

FLAG

$1^5=$

a
$1$
b
$15$
c
$5$
d
$1.5$
e
$\dfrac{1}{5}$

$2^5=$

a
$16$
b
$20$
c
$10$
d
$32$
e
$64$

$(-4)^5=$

a
$2\,048$
b
$-1\,024$
c
$-1\,244$
d
$-2\,048$
e
$1\,024$

Evaluate 9^1.

EXPLANATION

Any number raised to the first power is itself. So 9^1 = 9.

FLAG

${20}^1=$

a
$0$
b
$20$
c
undefined
d
$1$
e
$22$

$(-1)^1=$

a
$0$
b
$2$
c
Cannot be simplified.
d
$-1$
e
$1$
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