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Base (Exponent)
See It in Action
Two examples of the idea done right—and one common look-alike that is not right.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
NON-EXAMPLE
Definition
The base of an exponent is the number that is being multiplied by itself when raised to a power. In an expression of the form a^b, where a is the base and b is the exponent (or power), the base a is the number that is multiplied by itself b times.
For example, in the expression 3^4:
3 is the base,
4 is the exponent,
The expression means 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 = 81.
So, the base determines the number that is repeated in multiplication according to the value of the exponent.
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