Exponents are actually shorthand for multiplications, and represent the number of times a number is being multiplied—called the base. For example, (9) × (9) = 9², or 9 × 9 × 9 = 9³.

Another way to describe this process is called “raising to a power,” in which the exponent (a number as a superscript) is the “power.” For example, 9³ is “nine raised to the third power.” It is also easier to write larger numbers with exponents. For instance, instead of writing xxxx, we can write x⁴. (For more information about exponents, see “Algebra.”)