The exponent of a number says how many times to use the number in a multiplication.
For Example, In 8² , the 2 is the number of times 8 has to be multiplied. In this case It has to multiplied by itself 2 times, 8x8 = 64 so 8² = 64. Another example is 9³ since the number above is 3 we have to multiply 9 three times, 9x9x9 = 729 which means 9³ = 729.
