What is an Exponent — lesson. Mathematics CBSE, Class 7.

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An exponent is a small number written above and to the right of the base number, tells how many times the base number is being multiplied.

The base a raised to the power of n is equal to the multiplication of a, n times:

a \cdot a \cdot a \cdot ... \cdot a

\(=\)

a^{n}

\(a\) is the base and \(n\) is the exponent.

Powers in an algebraic expression:

In an algebraic expression, we normally use the “\(x\) to the power \(3\)” that is

x^{3}

. Here, the base is \(x\), and the exponent is \(3\). It means that \(x\) is being multiplied by itself \(3\) times:

x^{3} = x \times x \times x

For example, “5 to the power 4” may be written as

5^{4}

. Here, the base number is \(5\), and the exponent is \(4\). It means that \(5\) is being multiplied by itself \(4\) times:

5^{4} = 5 \times 5 \times 5 \times 5

Where,

5^{4} = 5 \times 5 \times 5 \times 5

5^{4}

= 625

Example:

\begin{array}{l} 5^{1} = 5 \\ 5^{2} = 3 \cdot 3 = 25 \\ 5^{3} = 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 = 125 \\ 5^{4} = 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 = 625 \\ 5^{5} = 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 \cdot 5 = 3125 \end{array}

Did you find an error?

6. What is an Exponent