What does it mean if a number is raised to an exponent?

When a number is raised to an exponent, it signifies that the base number is being multiplied by itself for a specified number of times, which is indicated by the exponent. For example, if you have the number 3 raised to the power of 4 (written as (3^4)), it means that you multiply 3 by itself four times: (3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3). This process results in (3^4 = 81). Therefore, understanding exponents as a means of repeated multiplication is crucial in mathematics, as it forms the basis for many algebraic concepts and operations.