When we talk about 4 raised to the power of 2, we’re actually referring to a mathematical operation known as exponentiation. In this case, 4 is the base and 2 is the exponent. This means that we multiply the base (4) by itself as many times as indicated by the exponent (2).
So, calculating 4 to the power of 2 would look like this:
4^2 = 4 × 4
Now, performing the multiplication:
4 × 4 = 16
Therefore, 4 raised to the power of 2 equals 16. This concept is essential in various fields of mathematics, including algebra and geometry, as it helps us to understand how numbers can grow rapidly through exponentiation.
If you have any further questions about exponents or other mathematical concepts, feel free to ask!