# Using exponents to describe numbers

### Using exponents to describe numbers

A number in exponential form has two components, the base and the exponent. The base is the bigger number on the left, and the exponent is the smaller number at the top right hand corner of the base. When you multiply the same number two times or more, you may express it in exponential form.

#### Lessons

• 1.
Write in exponential notation, and calculate.
a)
5 × 5

b)
4 × 4 × 4

c)
6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6

d)
8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8

• 2.
Complete the table.
Repeated Multiplication Exponential Form Value
9 × 9 × 9 × 9 ${9^4}$ ____
2 × 2 × 2 ____ ____
___________ ____ 25
___________ ____ 216
___________ ${12^3}$ ____

• 3.
Complete the table.
Repeated Multiplication Exponential Form Value
(-6) × (-6) × (-6) × (-6) ${\left( { - 6} \right)^4}$ ____
(-8) × (-8) × (-8) ${\left( { - 8} \right)^3}$ ____
(-1) × (-1) × (-1) ____ ____
___________ ${\left( { - 9} \right)^2}$ ____
___________ ____ -1024

• 4.
The side length of the cube below is 5 cm. Write the volume of the cube in repeated multiplication form and as a power.

• 5.
Write 16 as a power where the exponent is 4 and the base is:
a)
negative

b)
positive