Exponentiation

An exponent records repeated multiplication. In aⁿ, the base a is used as a factor n times: 2⁴ = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16.

Exponents shorten repeated products, just as multiplication shortens repeated addition. They are used in the pythagorean-theorem (a² + b² = c²), in volume (edge³), and in the area of a square.