Mathematics · Glossary
What is Exponent?
Quick definition
A number that indicates how many times a base is multiplied by itself. 2³ = 2×2×2 = 8.
Full explanation
An exponent (or power) is a number written as a superscript that tells how many times to multiply the base by itself. 5^4 = 5×5×5×5 = 625. The exponent is also called the power: 5 to the 4th power. Special cases: any number to the 0th power equals 1. Negative exponents mean the reciprocal: 2^-3 = 1/8. Fractional exponents are roots: 8^(1/3) = ∛8 = 2. Exponents govern compound interest, exponential growth (and decay), scientific notation, and the entire field of calculus. Euler's number e^x is the natural exponential, fundamental to growth, decay, and continuous compounding.
Related calculators
Calculators that use or explain Exponent.
Related terms
More from Mathematics
Standard Deviation
A measure of how spread out numbers are from their mean. Low = consistent, high = volatile.
P-Value
The probability of observing results at least as extreme as those observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true.
Mean (Average)
The sum of values divided by the count. The most common type of "average." Sensitive to outliers.
Median
The middle value in a sorted list. Half the values are above, half below. Robust to outliers.
Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the two legs: a² + b² = c².
Logarithm
The exponent to which a base must be raised to produce a given number. log(100) = 2 means 10² = 100.
Last reviewed: June 15, 2026 • Category: Mathematics