Question

How do you write the expression `r*r*r*r` using exponents?

Answer 1

`r^4` .Its the only answer.

Answer 2

`r*r*r*r=r^4`

Answer 3

`rxxrxxrxxr = r^4`

Explanation:

The short way to write repeated addition is multiplication.

`4+4+4+4+4 = 5xx4 = 20`

Multiplication is a stronger operation than addition.

In a similar way, the short way to write repeated multiplication is using indices or exponents.

`4xx4xx4xx4xx4 = 4^5 = 1024`

Note the difference between

`r+r+r+r = 4xxr = 4r`

And

`rxxrxxrxxr = r^4`

Indices are stronger than multiplication, which is why in an expression with mixed operations, the order is:

powers and roots
multiply and divide
addition and subtraction