Write and Evaluate Expressions with Exponents

Students write numerical expressions using whole-number exponents (e.g., 2³) and evaluate them by performing repeated multiplication. They distinguish between the base and the exponent and apply exponents within expressions that use order of operations.

Try three of them

Real questions from this skill, graded here. No account, and nothing is saved.

Grade 6 · Expressions and Properties · question 1 of 3

0 of 20

20 rungs. A star at the top.

3^2 + 6 =

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:35

An exponent tells how many times to multiply a base by itself.

The base is the number being multiplied.

A power is the base written with its exponent.

Read it: The small number counts the factors

4³ means three 4s multiplied: 4 × 4 × 4 = 64. So 4³ + 5 = 64 + 5 = 69.

Read the small number: it says how many times the big number is a factor.
Write the factors out and multiply: 4 × 4 × 4 = 64.
Then do the rest: 64 + 5 = 69.

An exponent is a short way to write the same factor many times.

The power is worked out before any adding, the way multiplying is.

4 × 4 = 16, and one more 4 makes 4 × 4 × 4 = 64.

Write the base as many times as the exponent says, multiply, then do the adding.

Reading 4³ as 4 × 3 = 12.

The 3 counts the 4s: 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, so 4³ + 5 = 69.

11² + 14 = ___ — 135. 11 × 11 = 121, and 121 + 14 = 135.

2⁴

Today we'll learn about exponents. What does two to the fourth power mean?

Here's our expression: two to the fourth power.

The bigger number on the bottom is called the base. It's the number we'll multiply.

The little number up top is the exponent. It tells us how many times to multiply the base by itself.

So two to the fourth means two multiplied by itself four times.

Let's work left to right. Two times two is four.

Four times two is eight.

Eight times two is sixteen.

Grade 6 · What does 2 to the fourth power mean?

So two to the fourth equals sixteen. The exponent just tells us how many copies of the base to multiply.

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal: 1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now: Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

More of the library

Every skill has a page

Practise this skill free

14 days of every skill, practice packets, Fluency sheets and up to four students. No card.

Start free