Meaning & use
exponential expression
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Meaning
nouncountablemathematics
a mathematical notation that shows a base number raised to a power, such as 2³ or xⁿ
Grammar: Countable; you can say 'an exponential expression' or 'exponential expressions'.
Patterns
- an exponential expression
- simplify an exponential expression
- evaluate an exponential expression
In the expression 5², the whole thing is an exponential expression.
She learned how to simplify exponential expressions with the same base.
The teacher asked the class to write 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 as an exponential expression.
Word forms
| plural | exponential expressions |
|---|
Common combinations
- simplify an exponential expression
- To simplify an exponential expression, you add the exponents when the bases are the same.
- evaluate an exponential expression
- We need to evaluate the exponential expression 2⁴ by multiplying 2 by itself four times.
- exponential form
- Write the number 100 in exponential form as 10².
- base and exponent
- In an exponential expression, the base is the number being multiplied and the exponent tells how many times.
Synonyms and how they differ
- power
- Often used informally to mean the same thing, but 'power' can also refer to the result of the operation, while 'exponential expression' specifically refers to the notation.
Word family
- exponent noun
- The small raised number in an exponential expression that shows how many times the base is multiplied.
- exponential adjective
- Relating to exponents or to a rapid increase.
Commonly confused: exponential expression or exponential function?
exponential expression vs exponential function
An exponential expression is just the notation like 2³; an exponential function is a function of the form f(x) = a·bˣ, which uses such expressions.
Practice
Which of the following is an exponential expression?
Choose one answer.
'5²' is an exponential expression because it shows a base (5) raised to a power (2). The other options are simple arithmetic operations without exponents.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “exponential expression”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.