SOLUTION: What I want to know is if there is a easier way to solve exponents. Lets say you have 16 to the 18th power. Do you have to sit there doing 16 x 16 x 16, etc, etc? Just wondering. A

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: What I want to know is if there is a easier way to solve exponents. Lets say you have 16 to the 18th power. Do you have to sit there doing 16 x 16 x 16, etc, etc? Just wondering. A      Log On


   

Question 894010: What I want to know is if there is a easier way to solve exponents. Lets say you have 16 to the 18th power. Do you have to sit there doing 16 x 16 x 16, etc, etc? Just wondering. Am I missing something or is this the only way?
Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, josgarithmetic:
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Use a calculator.
Every computer has one

Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Not many people would or be expected to perform basic elementary arithmetic to compute 16%5E18. What you are missing is logarithmic and exponential functions, and computers.

You can also make use of laws of exponents.
16=2%5E4, a basic commonly known fact.

16%5E18=%282%5E%284%29%29%5E18
2%5E%284%2A18%29
highlight_green%282%5E72%29


But one reason it would not be done by hand is because the product will have too many digits causing long labor and likelihood of mistakes.

TRIED A CHECK THROUGH GOOGLE:
4.7223665%2A10%5E21

If this were to be a test question, you would either use a portable hand calculator or use a table of logarithms. A computation like this will NOT be done to the nearest whole value.