Arithmetic Grade Six

Lesson Forty-three: Exponents

Exponents are a short way of writing repetitive multiplication problems. Here are some examples:
EXPONENTMULTIPLICATIONVALUE
323 x 3 = 9
424 x 4 = 16
525 x 5 =25
When you see an exponent you can read or say it in two different ways:
EXPONENTSAY IT LIKE THIS:
62six raised to the second power
or
six squared
72seven raised to the second power
or
seven squared

Alternative Notation

You can also write an exponent using a carot symbol:

EXPONENTAlternative NotationMEANINGVALUE
323^23 x 3 = 9
222^22 x 2 = 4
121^21 x 1 = 1
424^24 x 4 = 16

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