The expression that is being raised to a power when using exponential notation. In 5³, 5 is the base, which is the number that is repeatedly multiplied. 5³ = 5 • 5 • 5. In a^b, a is the base.

When a number is expressed in the form a^b, ^b is the exponent. The exponent indicates how many times the base is used as a factor. Power and exponent mean the same thing.

A calculation in which the exponent y in x = b^y is found when given x and b; the corresponding notation is log_bx = y.