Exponent

The exponent (such as the 2 in x²) says how many times to use the value in a multiplication.

Examples:

7² = 7 × 7 = 49

y⁴ = y × y × y × y

y³z² = y × y × y x z x z

Exponents make it quicker and easier to write a term that uses many multiplications

Example: y⁴z³ is easier than y × y × y × y × z × z x z, or yyyyzzz