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Exponents
- An introduction -
By Carol Edelstein
David E. Owens Middle School
New Milford, NJ
Location of an Exponent
 An
exponent is a number high and to
the right of a base number.
Base
3
4
Exponent
Definition of Exponent
 An
exponent tells you how many times
the base number is multiplied by itself.
4
Base
 So,
3
Exponent
34 is equal to 3 x 3 x 3 x 3.
How to read an Exponent

This exponent is read “three to the fourth
power”.
4
3

This exponent is read “two to the sixth
power”.
2
6
How to read an Exponent
(the special cases)


This exponent is read “seven to the second
power” or “seven squared”.
7
2
8
3
This exponent is read “eight to the third
power” or “eight cubed”.
Practice –
Read These Exponents
3
2
2
3
6
5
7
4
Did you get…
Three to the second power
or Three squared
3
2
Six to the fifth power
2
3
Two to the third power
or Two cubed
6
5
7
4
Seven to the fourth power
What is the Exponent?
2x2x2= 2
3
What is the Exponent?
3x3= 3
2
What is the Exponent?
5x5x5x5= 5
4
What is the Base and the
Exponent?
8x8x8x8= 8
4
What is the Base and the
Exponent?
7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 =7
5
What is the Base and the
Exponent?
9x9= 9
2
How to multiply out an
Exponent to find the
Standard Form
4
3 =3x3x3x3
9
27
81
Write the Power in
Standard Form
4
2
= 16
4 x 4 = 16
Make sure that you do not read
this question as 4 x 2.
Write the Power in
Standard Form
2
3
= 8
2x2x2=
4x2= 8
How did you do?
Write the Power in
Standard Form
3
2
= 9
3x3= 9
Again, make sure that you do not
read this question as 3 x 2.
Write the Power in
Standard Form
5
4
= 625
5 x 5 x 5 x5 =
25 x 5 x 5 =
125 x 5 = 625
Exponents used in
Area Problems
Area = length x width
15ft
Length = 30 ft
Width = 15 ft
30ft
Area = 30 ft x 15ft = 450 ft
2
Remember:
ft 2 = ft x ft
Exponents are used in
Volume Problems
Volume = length x width x height
length = 10 cm
width = 10 cm
height = 20 cm
20cm
10cm
10cm
Volume =
3
20 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm = 2,000 cm
Remember: cm3 = cm x cm x cm
Exponents are also used…

in scientific notation to express very large or
small numbers.
Example:
The distance to the sun is about 90,000,000 miles.
Using scientific notation, we can write this number.
90,000,000 = 9 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
9 x 10 7
Scientific notation
Congratulations, now you know
a little more about exponents.
The End