How to work with the sign ^ in math??

[omkar85]

Recently I was going through the "Challenge Problem of the Week" and I dont know how to work with the sign ^ For example:
x^2 - bx ( a question related to coordinate geometry) or heres a example of a complete question below:

If n is a positive integer, what is n?

(1) 3^n - 1 has three prime factors, not necessarily distinct.

(2) n^2 = 2^n.
I neither know what does the sign ^ mean nor is it mentioned in any of the 8 books of manhattan gmat 2007 edition. Kindly help.

[joanna]

The carrot indicates the number right after it is an exponent. So 2^2 actually is 2 squared (but not all keyboards and programs) have the superscript functionality.

[esledge]

Yeah, it's not actually a mathematical symbol, just a work-around for expressing exponents on rudimentary computer applications!

[Saurav]

The '^' sign means exponent when writing supercript is not available. for example X ^ Y will always mean X raised to power Y in normal mathematics language. Just the same way you use '/' to represent division.

[malikrulzz]

If n is a positive integer, what is n?
(1) 3^n - 1 has three prime factors, not necessarily distinct.
(2) n^2 = 2^n.


What the answer in this case. Is it B?

[malikrulzz]

Apologies Should be C. From B we get 2 and 4. If we combine this with A? We get 8 or 80. For three prime factors it can be 8 only. Hence C

[esledge]

If n is a positive integer, what is n?
(1) 3^n - 1 has three prime factors, not necessarily distinct.
(2) n^2 = 2^n.

We need some verification on that question:

(A) Can someone please confirm the source/author of the question. The original poster just submitted it as an example of the ^ sign, so it's possible that it's from a source on our banned list (review our forum policies for more info).

(B) It's not in our pool of CAT questions, so it doesn't belong in this folder. If you can verify the provenance of the question, please post it as a new thread in the appropriate folder.

(C) Finally, should we read (1) as "(3^n) - 1 has three prime..." or as "3^(n-1) has three prime..."? Clarify with parentheses when you repost, please.

Thanks!