4 raised to the power of 2, denoted as 42, is a mathematical expression that represents multiplying 4 by itself. In simpler terms:
- 42 = 4 x 4
When you perform this multiplication:
- 4 x 4 = 16
Thus, the value of 42 is 16.
This is a basic example of exponentiation in mathematics, where the base (in this case, 4) is multiplied by itself a specified number of times, which is indicated by the exponent (2). Exponents are a concise way to express repeated multiplication, making it easier to calculate and understand large numbers.