What happens to exponents when you multiply?

A Variable is a symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y. An exponent (such as the 2 in x 2) says how many times to use the variable in a multiplication. read more

The exponent "product rule" tells us that, when multiplying two powers that have the same base, you can add the exponents. In this example, you can see how it works. Adding the exponents is just a short cut! Power Rule. The "power rule" tells us that to raise a power to a power, just multiply the exponents. read more

For instance, the shorthand for multiplying three copies of the number 5 is shown on the right-hand side of the "equals" sign in (5)(5)(5) = 5 3. The "exponent", being 3 in this example, stands for however many times the value is being multiplied. read more