- Power/Index: Shows how many times to multiply: 2⁴ = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
- Base: The number being multiplied: in 5³, the base is 5
- Square: Power of 2 (area of a square)
- Cube: Power of 3 (volume of a cube)
- Square root: What number squared gives this? √25 = 5
- Cube root: What number cubed gives this? ∛8 = 2
This key facts covers Understanding Powers and Roots within Powers & Roots for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Powers & Roots in Number for GCSE Mathematics with 15 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 2 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Powers & Roots
What is the value of 2⁻³?
Explain why x⁻¹ = 1/x
Quick recall flashcards
Cubes: 1³ to 5³
1³ = 1
2³ = 8
3³ = 27
4³ = 64
5³ = 125
Powers of 10
10¹ = 10
10² = 100
10³ = 1,000
10⁴ = 10,000
10⁵ = 100,000
10⁶ = 1,000,000
Pattern: n zeros after 1