Calculating 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 takes a long time to write out.
So we have invented a shortcut way of writing it.
After checking that all the numbers are the same (here they are all 2s), count them up.
There are 7 here.
So, instead of writing 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, we can write 27
We read 27 as 2 to the power of 7 or as 2 to the 7.
This is what 27 means:
2 x 2 = 4
4 x 2 = 8
8 x 2 = 16
16 x 2 = 42
32 x 2 = 64
64 x 2 = 128
So, 27 = 128
Be careful
This has nothing to do with the number 7 itself!
It is not the same as 2 x 7 = 14. This would be the answer to 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
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