SOLUTION: Does 9^9^9 = 9^81 or does it equal 9^(387,420,489) ?

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: Does 9^9^9 = 9^81 or does it equal 9^(387,420,489) ?      Log On


   



Question 1069699: Does 9^9^9 = 9^81 or does it equal 9^(387,420,489) ?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20081) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
cross%289%5E9%5E9%29 is incorrect mathematical notation because 
exponentiation is not associative, and there is no rule
in the order of operations that states which exponentiation we
are to do first.  Therefore we must use parentheses to indicate
which is meant.  We must either write this:

%289%5E9%29%5E9%22%22=%22%22196627050475552913618075908526912116283103450944214766927315415537966391196809 

or this:

matrix%282%2C1%2C%22%22%2C9%5E%28%289%5E9%29%29%29 

However the second one is so large that it would take 369693100 digits
to write it.

Edwin