# Math Help - Whats a BASE???

1. ## Whats a BASE???

i get powers, but whats a base?

2. In $a^b$, $a$ is the base and $b$ is the power.

3. hmmm

4. Originally Posted by Graffitixgirl
hmmm
make no sense =\ 26 = ?a .... LOL

5. nonono
? *9* not a... lolz

6. Doesn't matter what it is, because all your base are belong to us.

(sorry... couldn't help myself)

7. Originally Posted by Rebesques
Doesn't matter what it is, because all your base are belong to us.
(sorry... couldn't help myself)
LOL

Originally Posted by Graffitixgirl
nonono
? *9* not a... lolz
so 26 = ?^9???

if so ... to get rid of the nine ... you take power of 1/9 both sides...

(26)^(1/9) = ?^(9)(1/9)

26^(1/9) = ? ^ 1

26^(1/9) = ?

... calculator says ... 1.43621

BUTTT

if you question is 2^6 = ?^9

do the same thing...

2^6(1/9) = ?^9(1/9)
2^2/3 = ?

2^2/3 is the same as ...

$
\sqrt[3]{2^2}
$

hope this help but i feel like it didnt :P

8. All your base are belong to us.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself!

EDIT: Rebs beat me to it!

9. ## Base

Base, as stated above, is b in the b^n form. This also relates to base when referring to the base of a positional numeral system.

Standard numbers are base 10 where each position is represented as 10^n where n is its position. Example: 236 = 2*10^2 + 3*10^1 + 6*10^0

For a binary number the base is two. 1010 = 1*2^3 + 1*2^1 (this number is the same as 10 in base 10)