Learn the correct words and vocabulary for exponent problems. When you have an exponent, like 2^{3}, you have two simple parts. The bottom number, here a 2, is the base. The number it is raised to, here a 3, is known as the exponent or power. If you are talking about 2^{3}, you would say it is "two to the third," "two to the third power," or "two raised to the third power." If a number is raised to the second power, like 5^{2}, you can also say that the number is squared, such as "five squared." If a number is raised to the third power, like 10^{3}, you can also say it is cubed, such as "ten cubed." If a number has no exponent shown, like a simple 4, it is technically to the first power and can be rewritten as 4^{1}. If the exponent is 0, and a "non-zero number" is raised to the "zero power", then the whole thing equals 1, such as 4^{0}=1 or even something like (3/8)^{0}=1
