Powers, Exponents, and Roots
Terms
Base
-
The number that is raised to a power. In "
74
", 7 is the base.
Cube
-
A number times itself times itself. 5 cubed
= 53 = 5×5×5 = 125
.
Cube Root
-
A number that, when cubed, is equal to the given number.
Exponent
-
The power to which a number is raised; the number of times a number is
multiplied. In "
74
", 7 has an exponent of 4, and 7 is
multiplied 4 times
(7×7×7×7)
.
Fractional Exponent
-
An exponent in which the numerator is the power to which the number should
be taken and the denominator is the root which should be taken.
Mean
-
The sum of two numbers, divided by 2 (sometimes called an average). This
yields the number directly between the two numbers.
Negative Exponent
-
An exponent that takes the base number to the positive
opposite of the
exponent (the exponent with the negative sign removed), and places the result in
the denominator of a fraction whose numerator is 1.
Perfect Square
-
The square of a whole number. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, ... are all perfect
squares.
Simplify (Square Root)
-
To remove all factors that are perfect squares from inside the square
root sign and place their square roots outside the sign.
Square
-
A number times itself. 5 squared
= 52 = 5×5 = 25
.
Square Root
-
A number that, when squared (multiplied by itself), is equal to the given
number.
