Final answer:
In the exponential expression 6⁵, the base is the number 6. Hence, the answer is c. 6, as it is the number that is multiplied by itself five times in this expression. Option c is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The base of an exponential expression is the number that is repeatedly multiplied by itself. In the expression 6⁵, the number being multiplied is 6. This tells us that the base is 6. Therefore, the correct answer to "What is the base of the exponential expression? 6⁵" is c. 6.
Understanding the base in exponential expressions is crucial for different mathematical operations such as simplifying expressions or solving exponential equations. An exponential expression consists of a base raised to a power, indicating how many times the base is used as a factor. For example, in 2³, the base is 2, and it is used as a factor three times: 2 x 2 x 2, which equals 8.