Powers Review
Powers are calculated by multiplying the base by itself
the number of times indicated by the exponent. As multiplication is
to repeated addition, powers are to repeated multiplication.
power = baseexponent = base^exponent
Special names are used for exponent two and three.
base2
=base x base = base^2 = base
squared
base3
= base x base x base = base^3
= base cubed
| Concept/Term |
Example(s) |
Definition/Explanation |
| power
|
81 is the fourth power of 3, because: 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81
34 is another way of writing this power |
the answer from multiplying a number by itself one or more times. A power
has two parts:
baseexponent =
34
and can be written/read in several ways:
- the fourth power of three
- three exponent four
- three to the fourth power
|
32
33 |
Exponents 2 and 3 can also be written/read another way:
- 32 is read three squared
- 33 is read three cubed
|
| base |
In 34
, the base is 3. |
the number being multiplied in a power |
| exponent |
In 34
, the exponent is 4. |
the number of times a number is being multiplied by itself in a power |
| coefficient |
In 5x2,
the coefficient is 5. |
the constant (number) multiplier of the variables in a term |
| Exponential
Form (Power) |
Expanded
Form/Repeated Multiplication |
Standard
Form (Standard Name) |
34 |
3 x 3
x 3 x 3 |
81 |
33 |
3 x 3 x 3 |
27 |
| 32 |
3 x 3 |
9 |
| 31 |
3 |
3 |
| 30 |
no expanded form |
1 |
Note: The standard name of any non-zero
base with an exponent of zero is equal to 1. |