Curriculum › Math ›Grade 6

Grade 6 Math · Level 3, Expressions, Equations & Inequalities

Exponents & Order of Operations

How the lesson starts: Exponents & Order of Operations

1. Nia's robot code

   Welcome to Nia's robot factory! Nia's robots write numbers in a short code, with a tiny number up high, like 3², 2³ and 5⁴. That tiny number is called an exponent. Today you'll crack what it means, so you can read the robot code too.

2. A square of bolts

   Nia lays out bolts in 3 rows of 3. That makes a square, so we write 3² and say 3 squared. The big 3 is the base. The tiny 2 is the exponent. It says how many 3s to multiply: 3 × 3 = 9. Not 3 × 2!

3. Let's crack 3⁴

   Robot Ada must find 3⁴. The exponent is 4, so write four 3s and multiply. 3 × 3 = 9. Then 9 × 3 = 27. Then 27 × 3 = 81. So 3⁴ = 81. Why not 12? Because 3 × 4 = 12 adds 3 four times. Exponents multiply!