The marking [[$ (3^2)^4 $]] stands for the power of a power. The exponent is the number 4 and the base number is the number inside the brackets, i.e. [[$3^2$]]. Let us consider the power as a base number like a single number. The power expression can be written as follows:

[[$ (3^2)^4 = \underbrace{3^2 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 3^2}_{\text{This is a product of powers with the same base that is already known.}} = 3 \overbrace{^{2+2+2+2}}^{=2 \cdot 4} =3^8 $]]

The power of a power

A power is raised to a power by multiplying the exponents. The base stays the same.

[[$ \left(a^m\right)^n = a^{m \cdot n}$]]

Examples

Example 1

Simplify the powers.

a)	[[$ (2^3)^2 = 2^{3 \cdot 2} = 2^6 = 64 $]]
b)	[[$ 16(a^2)^2 = 16 \cdot a^{2 \cdot 2} = 16a^4 $]]	Only [[$a^2$]] is the base of the power.
c)	[[$ 2^{3^2} = 2^9 =512 $]]	This is not a power of power!

Example 2

To what power does number [[$3$]] need to be raised in order for the value to be equal to number [[$ 9^5 $]]? In other words, what number can replace [[$ x $]] in the following equation: [[$ 3^x = 9^5 $]]?

Solution:

The base number of power [[$ 9^5 $]] is [[$ 9 $]], which is obtained as the power of number three as follows: [[$ 3^2 = 9 $]]. By replacing the number nine with this power and simplifying the calculation, we arrive at the result [[$ 9^5 = (3^2)^5 = 3^{2\cdot 5} = 3^{10} $]].

Answer: The number [[$3$]] must be raised to power [[$10$]].