What does the term 'base' refer to in exponential notation?

What does the term 'base' refer to in exponential notation?

• A. The result of the exponentiation
• B. The number of times the base is multiplied by itself
• C. The number being raised to a power
• D. The value of an exponent

Answer: (C)

In exponential notation, the term 'base' specifically refers to the number that is being raised to a power. For example, in the expression \(2^3\), the number 2 is the base, and it indicates the value that will be multiplied by itself a certain number of times determined by the exponent. In this case, 2 is multiplied by itself three times (2 × 2 × 2), resulting in 8. Recognizing the base is fundamental in understanding how exponential expressions work, as it allows you to comprehend not just the operation being performed, but also the underlying principles of exponentiation. The exponent indicates how many times the base should be multiplied by itself, which is why understanding what the base is helps in calculating the final result correctly.

In exponential notation, the term 'base' specifically refers to the number that is being raised to a power. For example, in the expression (2^3), the number 2 is the base, and it indicates the value that will be multiplied by itself a certain number of times determined by the exponent. In this case, 2 is multiplied by itself three times (2 × 2 × 2), resulting in 8.

Recognizing the base is fundamental in understanding how exponential expressions work, as it allows you to comprehend not just the operation being performed, but also the underlying principles of exponentiation. The exponent indicates how many times the base should be multiplied by itself, which is why understanding what the base is helps in calculating the final result correctly.