The expression “5 to the power of 5,” denoted mathematically as 55, represents an operation known as exponentiation. In this case, the base is 5, and the exponent (or power) is also 5. This means that we multiply the number 5 by itself a total of 5 times.
To compute 55, we can break it down step-by-step:
- First, we consider the first multiplication: 5 × 5 = 25.
- Next, we take that result and multiply it by 5 again: 25 × 5 = 125.
- Then we multiply that result by 5 once more: 125 × 5 = 625.
- Finally, we perform the last multiplication: 625 × 5 = 3125.
Thus, the value of 55 is 3125.
Exponentiation is a fundamental concept in mathematics, especially in areas involving powers and roots, and it has numerous applications in science, engineering, and finance, demonstrating how quickly numbers can grow when raised to higher powers.