Exponents are a way to express repeated multiplication of a number by itself. For example, in the expression 2^3, the number 2 is multiplied by itself 3 times, resulting in 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. Exponents simplify calculations and make it easier to work with large numbers. Multiplication, on the other hand, is one of the basic arithmetic operations. It combines groups of equal size. For instance, 3 × 4 means adding 3 four times, which equals 12. Both exponents and multiplication are fundamental concepts in mathematics, used in various applications from simple calculations to complex equations.