A short way to write a long multiplication
Start with one cell. Every cell splits in two each hour. After five hours there are 32 cells.
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2⁵ — the short way to write it. Step 1 of 4
2⁵— the short way to write it.- Opened out:
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2. - Five 2s. Base 2, exponent 5.
- Multiplied out: 32.
The rule
A power is a short way to write repeated multiplication. It has a base and an exponent. The base is the number you multiply. The exponent counts how many. The exponent is also called the count. 2⁵ is five 2s multiplied: 32. Each copy of the base is a factor.
5²is read five squared.5³is five cubed.- Above 3, say "to the power" and the exponent.
2⁴is two to the power four. 5³= 5 × 5 × 5 = 25 × 5 = 125.- A power multiplies.
3 + 3 + 3 + 3is 12, but3 × 3 × 3 × 3is 81.