In mathematics, a power is a mathematical operation that represents the repeated multiplication of a number by itself. It is also known as an exponent. The power is written in the form of "a^b," where "a" is the base and "b" is the exponent.
For example:
- In the expression 2^3, the base is 2, and the exponent is 3. It means 2 raised to the power of 3, which is equal to 2 x 2 x 2 = 8.
- In the expression 5^2, the base is 5, and the exponent is 2. It means 5 raised to the power of 2, which is equal to 5 x 5 = 25.
Powers are fundamental in various mathematical concepts and calculations, such as algebra, calculus, and geometry. They play a significant role in expressing large numbers, scientific notation, and various mathematical relationships.