What does the exponent in an expression indicate?

The exponent in an expression indicates how many times the base number is multiplied by itself. For example, in the expression \(2^3\), the base is 2, and the exponent is 3, meaning \(2 \times 2 \times 2 = 8\). It’s a way to express large numbers concisely and is fundamental in both algebra and various fields of science and engineering. You can find exponents aplenty in the real world, especially in calculations involving growth! For instance, compound interest in finance can be described using exponents to show how an investment grows over time. Similarly, in physics, exponents help depict exponential decay or growth processes, like radioactive decay, where understanding these concepts can illustrate significant changes over relatively short periods!