# What does the raised $^2$ stand for?

What does the raised $2$ stand for? My first guess was: $4^2$ is $2\times 4=8$?

Note: Am not really good at math

• Is that it? I guess a few operators are missing in your question.
– lsp
Dec 23, 2013 at 12:21
• OP that is called an exponent. it means you multiply the number by itself two times. Dec 23, 2013 at 12:23
• @lsp, yes. I never really understood what it actually represent, came across this site, and thought I'll ask. Dec 23, 2013 at 12:24
• @DonLarynx, so, 2x4??? Dec 23, 2013 at 12:24
• @blade19899 No, $4\times 4$. And $4^3$ is $4\times4\times4$ and so on. Dec 23, 2013 at 12:25

It is called 'exponent' or 'power'.

Here $4^2$ means $4$ multiplied twice or in other words product of two $4's$. So: $$4^2 = 4*4 = 16$$ Similarly $7^3$ means $7$ multiplied thrice or in other words product of three $7's$. So: $$7^3 = 7*7*7 = 343$$ Since you are a starter, you can get more information about it here.

• Thanks, understand it better now! Dec 23, 2013 at 12:34
• I'm curious, why do you prefer $*$ to $\times$? In particular, is it purely an aesthetic choice? Jan 9, 2014 at 9:43
• Some use 'x', some use '.', some use '*'. Depends on who is comfortable with what. As far as I am concerned there is nothing wrong with using any of them.
– lsp
Jan 9, 2014 at 9:47
• Hmm ... $4 \times 4$ ... is it really $4$ multiplied by itself twice? Actually, there is only one multiplication. Jan 9, 2014 at 14:02
• Overlooked ! Made a change now. Thanks for the notice.
– lsp
Jan 9, 2014 at 14:04