The notation \(3^2\) and \(2^3\) is known as index form. The small digit is called the index number or power. You have already seen that \(3^2 = 3 \times 3 = 9\) and that \(2^3 = 2 \times 2 \times ...

Save guides, add subjects and pick up where you left off with your BBC account. \(3 \times 3\) can also be written as \(3^2\). This is pronounced "\({3}\) squared". \({8}\) is a cube number.