When you multiply a number by itself several times, the small raised number that tells you how many times to multiply is called an exponent. In 2³, the little 3 is the exponent. It means 2 × 2 × 2, which equals 8. In 10⁵, the 5 tells you to multiply 10 by itself five times: 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10, which equals 100,000.

Exponents provide a shortcut for writing very large numbers. Instead of writing out a million as 1,000,000, you can write 10⁶. Scientists use exponents constantly when working with enormous numbers like the distance between stars or tiny measurements like the width of an atom.

You might hear people call exponents powers: 2³ is “two to the third power” or just “two to the third.” When the exponent is 2, we often say squared (5² is “five squared”), and when it's 3, we say cubed (4³ is “four cubed”).

Beyond mathematics, an exponent can mean someone who strongly supports and explains an idea. A scientist might be a leading exponent of a new theory, meaning they champion it and help others understand why it matters.