What is 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 as an exponent?

a = base
b = to the power
a to the power of b
3 will be the base.
How many times does 3 multiply to itself?
3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
5 times.
The power will be 5.

and this can be said as Three to the power of five.
= 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 243
= 243