Final answer:
The correct mathematical operator to raise five to the second power is the exponentiation operator, represented by the caret symbol '^'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mathematical operator used to raise five to the second power is the exponentiation operator, which is denoted by the caret symbol '^'. Therefore, the correct answer from the given options is 'e. ∧'. In mathematics, when we use this operator, it indicates an operation where a number is multiplied by itself a specified number of times. For example, 5 to the second power is written as 5^2, which means 5 x 5 = 25. This operation is also known as squaring a number. When a number is raised to the third power, such as 5^3, it's called cubing, and it represents 5 x 5 x 5 = 125.