How much is 2 to the power of 2?

Question

I know it is 4.  But is this 2+2 or 2x2?

Answer 1

When you write 2+2 it is the same as 2*2 but if you write 2+2+2 it's not the same as 2*2*2. Another example is 3+3 which is not the same as 3*3. If we write 2*2*2*2*2 we are actually working out 2 to the power of 5 because we are multiplying 5 2's together, not adding 5 2's together. It's a coincidence that 2+2=2*2 and the only other number that does this is 0, because 0+0=0*0=0. 2 to the power of 2 is often written 2^2, or in print it's 2 with a tiny 2 (superscript) next to it. By the way, 2 to the power 5 or 2^5 is 32.