Exponentiation means multiplying a number by itself a certain number of times. For example: 2³ = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. The base 2 raised to the exponent 3.

A negative exponent means taking the reciprocal. For example: 2⁻³ = 1/(2³) = 1/8 = 0.125. It's the same as 1 divided by the base raised to the positive exponent.

Any number raised to the power of 0 equals 1. This applies to all numbers except 0. So 10⁰ = 1, 5⁰ = 1, 100⁰ = 1.