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Intro to Exponents

Overview

Multiplication on steroids.

What is it?

Repeated multiplication of the same number (Powers).

History

Descartes introduced the superscript notation (x²) in 1637.

Key Idea

2³ is not 6! It's 2 * 2 * 2 = 8.

Practice This Topic

Concept Guide

Plain English: Multiplication is lazy adding (5+5+5 = 5x3). Exponents are lazy multiplication (5x5x5 = 5³). The big number is the Base, the little number is the Exponent.

Real-world example: Computer memory (Gigabytes) grows by powers of 2. Population growth is exponential.

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Common Pitfall

Thinking 5² is 10. It is 25.

Word Problem
"A zombie bites 2 people. They each bite 2 people. This happens 4 times."
Reasoning: 2 to the power of 4 (2⁴). 2x2x2x2 = 16 zombies.

Practice Examples

Squared
3² = 3 x 3 = 9
A literal square shape.
Cubed
2³ = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
A 3D cube shape.