Exponents for Kids: Powers, Squares, Cubes and Powers of Ten (Grade 6 Math)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about exponents. An exponent is a short way to show repeated multiplication. It tells us how many times to use a number as a factor.

In two to the power of five, two is the base and five is the exponent. It means five twos multiplied together. Two times two times two times two times two equals thirty two.

Some powers have special names. A number to the power of two is squared, so four squared is sixteen. A number to the power of three is cubed. Three cubed is three times three times three, which is twenty seven.

Be careful! Three to the power of four is not three times four. It is three times three times three times three, which is eighty one. Three times four is only twelve.

Powers of ten are easy. Ten squared is one hundred. Ten cubed is one thousand. Ten to the power of four is ten thousand. The exponent tells you how many zeros follow the one.

Two more rules. Any number to the power of one is just that number, so seven to the power of one is seven. And any number except zero, to the power of zero, equals one.

Now it's your turn. What is five cubed? And what is two to the power of four? Pause and try. Five times five times five is one hundred twenty five. Two times two times two times two is sixteen.

Great job! Remember, the base is the number you multiply, and the exponent tells how many times to use it. Squared means power of two and cubed means power of three. Practice exponents in Middle School Math at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!