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Exponents Worksheets

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What the base and exponent mean, powers as repeated multiplication, exponent form, and finding the value of a power.

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Learn exponents

The base, the exponent and the value, with a worked example.

Practice exponents

Write powers as repeated multiplication, write exponent form and find values.

Powers of 10

Exponents with base 10: the start of 5th grade place value.

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About these exponents worksheets

An exponent is a small raised number that tells how many times a base is used as a factor. In 4³ the base is 4 and the exponent is 3, so 4³ = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64. You say it as "four to the third power" or "four cubed." A power of 2 is called squared: 5² is "five squared."

In 5th grade, exponents start with powers of 10 (10³ = 1,000) and simple whole-number powers like 2⁵ and 3⁴. The most common mistake is to multiply the base by the exponent, so 4³ becomes 12. Writing the power out as repeated multiplication first stops that mistake.

These pages explain exponents with a worked example, then practice writing powers as multiplication, writing repeated multiplication in exponent form, and finding values. Every page has an answer key on page 2.

Standards

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.NBT.A.2Explain patterns in the number of zeros of the product when multiplying a number by powers of 10, and explain patterns in the placement of the decimal point when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10. Use whole-number exponents to denote powers of 10.

How to use them

  1. Start with What Is an Exponent? and read the three steps together.
  2. Use Write as Multiplication before finding values, so the meaning comes first.
  3. Use Write in Exponent Form to go the other way, from 6 × 6 × 6 to 6³.
  4. Finish with Find the Value of Each Power, then the powers of 10 pages.

Teaching tips

  • 4³ is 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, not 4 × 3 = 12.
  • Multiply two factors at a time: 2⁵ = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 4 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 × 2 × 2 = 32.
  • Any power of 10 is a 1 followed by as many zeros as the exponent.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is an exponent?

A small raised number that tells how many times the base is a factor. 3⁴ = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 81.

Do 5th graders learn exponents?

Yes. Fifth graders use whole-number exponents for powers of 10, and many classes also practice simple powers like 2⁵ and 5².

What does squared and cubed mean?

Squared means an exponent of 2 (6² = 36) and cubed means an exponent of 3 (2³ = 8).