3 to the 2nd power, which can also be written as 32, means 3 multiplied by itself. Let’s break it down:
When we raise a number to a power, we’re essentially saying how many times to use that number in multiplication. In this case, since the exponent is 2, we multiply:
3 × 3 = 9
Therefore, 3 to the 2nd power is equal to 9. This concept of exponents is a fundamental part of mathematics, illustrating how quickly numbers can grow when multiplied repeatedly.