Tetration is a mathematical operation that involves iterated exponentiation. It is denoted using the notation ^n a , where a is the base and n indicates how many times the exponentiation is applied. For example, ^3 2 means 2^2^2 , which equals 16. Tetration grows much faster than exponentiation, making it a powerful tool in various mathematical fields. This operation is part of a broader hierarchy of operations, which includes addition, multiplication, exponentiation, and then tetration. Tetration can be related to concepts in combinatorics, number theory, and even computer science, where it helps in analyzing algorithms and complexity.