Algebra

Treating Exponents as Multipliers

Students treat an exponent like a multiplier and write x3x^3 as 3x3x.

Quick check

Why students make it

This happens because both exponents and multiplication make numbers bigger in many examples. Students may think the small number tells them to multiply the base by that number, instead of telling how many times to use the base as a factor.

The rule done right

An exponent tells how many equal factors are multiplied. For example, x3=x⋅x⋅xx^3 = x \cdot x \cdot x, not 3x3x.

Related resources

exponentspowersalgebra-basics