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How Do You Write Exponents Without Exponents?

Published in Mathematics 1 min read

You can write exponents without using the traditional exponent symbol (^) by using repeated multiplication or mathematical functions.

Repeated Multiplication

  • Simple Exponents: For small exponents, you can simply multiply the base number by itself the number of times indicated by the exponent. For example, instead of writing 5², you can write 5 * 5.
  • Larger Exponents: For larger exponents, you can use parentheses to group the repeated multiplications. For example, instead of writing 3⁵, you can write (3 3 3 3 3).

Mathematical Functions

  • Power Function: Many programming languages and calculators have a built-in power function that allows you to calculate exponents without using the traditional exponent symbol. For example, in Python, you can use the pow() function to calculate 2 raised to the power of 4 as pow(2, 4).
  • Logarithm Function: The logarithm function can be used to express exponents in a different form. For example, the equation log₂ 16 = 4 is equivalent to 2⁴ = 16.

Examples

  • 5²: 5 * 5
  • 3⁵: (3 3 3 3 3)
  • 2⁸: pow(2, 8)
  • log₂ 8 = 3: 2³ = 8

By using these methods, you can express exponents without using the traditional exponent symbol, which can be useful in various contexts.

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