What Are Exponents in Algebra?

Exponents declare that you multiply a number by itself a certain amount of times.

Exponents in algebra are a shorthand notation used to signify how many times you should multiply the number by itself. For example, 2 to the power of 3 equals 2 x 2 x 2.

Types

Exponents are usually positive, but become negative when a minus sign (-) appears in front of it. Negative exponents are solved by dividing 1 by the positive version of the exponent---known as a reciprocal. For example, 2 to the power of -3 is 1/2 x 2 x 2.

Fun Fact

Any number with an exponent of 0 (except 0) automatically equals 1, and those raised to the power of 1 are just the base number itself.

Benefits

Exponents in algebra prove useful because they cut down on the amount of clutter in a formula, especially when it calls for multiplying a number by itself many times.

Identification

When writing exponents on a computer, it is acceptable to use the caret symbol (^) to represent the exponent. For example, "2 to the power of 3" can be written as 2^3.

Tips

When multiplying identical base numbers with exponents, just add the exponents. For example, 2^3 x 2^5 = 2^8.

When dividing identical base numbers with exponents, just subtract the exponents. For example, 2^5 / 2^3 = 2^2.

References

• Math Is Fun: Using Exponents in Algebra
• Math.com: Exponents
• Math Is Fun: Exponents