103 is read as “10 to the third power” or “10 cubed.” It means 10 • 10 • 10, or 1,000.
82 is read as “8 to the second power” or “8 squared.” It means 8 • 8, or 64.
54 is read as “5 to the fourth power.” It means 5 • 5 • 5 • 5, or 625.
b5 is read as “ b to the fifth power.” It means b • b • b • b • b. Its value will depend on the value of b.
The exponent applies only to the number that it is next to. So in the expression xy4, only the y is affected by the 4. xy4 means x • y • y • y • y.
If the exponential expression is negative, such as −34, it means –(3 • 3 • 3 • 3) or −81.
If −3 is to be the base, it must be written as (−3)4, which means −3 • −3 • −3 • −3, or 81. Likewise, (−x)4 = (−x) • (−x) • (−x) • (−x) = x4, while −x4 = –(x • x • x • x).
