What does it mean if I raise a power to the power etc?

[jamesd2008]

What is the result of a number raised to the power of the number raised to a power.

I.e. 2^2^2?

 

[Mark44]

This expression is evaluated from right to left, as if parentheses were placed like so:
2^(2^2) = 2^4 = 16.

For this problem, the order isn't important, since (2^2)^2 = 4^2, also equals 16. For other problems with different numbers, thought, you can get different results.

For example, 5^2^3 = 5^(2^8) = 5^8 = 390625.

If you evaluate in the wrong order, you get (5^2)^3 = 25^3 = 15625.

 

[jamesd2008]

Thats great thanks

 

[DaveC426913]

Too soon to introduce him to "[URL Number[/URL]?

 

[Mark44]

Might be!