Exponents are a way to express repeated multiplication of a number by itself. For example, in the expression 2^3, the number 2 is called the base, and 3 is the exponent. This means you multiply 2 by itself three times: 2 × 2 × 2, which equals 8. Exponents help simplify calculations and make it easier to work with large numbers. Exponents can also represent roots, like the square root. The square root of a number is the same as raising that number to the power of 1/2. For instance, 4^(1/2) equals 2, since 2 × 2 equals 4. Understanding exponents is essential in math, science, and many real-life applications.