Jackson q-Bessel function

Exponentiation of numbers 0-10. Line labels = base. X axis = power. Y axis = result.

In exponentiation, the base is the number b in an expression of the form bⁿ. The number n is called the exponent and the expression is known formally as exponentiation of b by n or the exponential of n with base b. It is more commonly expressed as "the nth power of b", "b to the nth power" or "b to the power n". For example, the fourth power of 10 is 10000 since 10⁴ = 10000. The term power strictly refers to the entire expression, but is sometimes used to refer to the exponent.

When the nth power of b equals a number a, or  a = bⁿ , then b is called an "nth root" of a. For example, 10 is a fourth root of 10000.

The inverse function to exponentiation with base b (when it is well-defined) is called the logarithm to base b, denoted log_b. Thus:

$\log _{b}a=n.\,$

For example, $\log _{10}10000=4$.

See also

• Radix