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Grade 6 · Maths · Lessons
Powers
✖️repeated times²square³cube🔢exponent
Powers.
The big ideaA power is repeated multiplication. The exponent counts the factors.

How it works

A power is repeated multiplication. The exponent counts the factors.

6 × 6 = 6². 3³ means 3 × 3 × 3.

In an expression, work out the power before you add or take away.

Repeated times• 6 × 6• 3 × 3 × 3Power• 6²• 3³
Say it two ways.

Example 1: Write as a power

  1. 6 × 6 = 6^?
  2. 6 × 6 has 2 sixes.
  3. So 6 × 6 = 6².
  4. So the answer is 2.

Example 2: Order of work

  1. 3³ − 7 = ?
  2. 3³ = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
  3. Then subtract: 27 − 7 = 20.
  4. So the answer is 20.

Example 3: A bigger base

  1. 20² = ?
  2. 20² means 20 × 20.
  3. 2 × 2 = 4, then add the two zeros.
  4. So the answer is 400.

Words to know

exponent
The small number that counts how many times to multiply.
base
The number that is multiplied.

Watch out

Try it

  1. 3⁴ = ?
  2. 4² = ?
  3. 12 + 3³ = ?
Answers: 1. 81 · 2. 16 · 3. 39
For grown-upsDraw 5² as a square of 5 by 5 dots.
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