Exponents are a mathematical notation that indicates how many times a number, called the base, is multiplied by itself. For example, in the expression 2^3, the base is 2, and the exponent is 3, meaning 2 is multiplied by itself three times: 2 × 2 × 2, which equals 8. Exponents can also represent roots, such as the square root, which is expressed as an exponent of 1/2. For instance, 4^(1/2) equals 2, since 2 × 2 equals 4. Understanding exponents is essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations in algebra and other areas of mathematics.