What does the exponent in an expression indicate?

The exponent in an expression indicates how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. For example, in the expression \(2^3\), the base 2 is multiplied by itself three times: \(2 \times 2 \times 2\), resulting in 8. Exponents are a way to express large numbers compactly and are widely used in various fields, including science, finance, and computing. Understanding exponents can simplify complex calculations, but it’s common to make mistakes, like misinterpreting negative exponents. A negative exponent signifies the reciprocal of the base raised to the opposite positive exponent. For instance, \(2^{-3} = \frac{1}{2^3} = \frac{1}{8}\). Misplacing the negative sign can lead to incorrect answers, so always double-check your calculations!