so basically, the exponent acts as a shortcut to let you multiply a number times itself a bunch of times (btw, the number can also be written like this: 7^3) so 7^3 is 7x7x7, while 7^2 is 7x7 you can count how many of a number there is to tell what it would be written as!! example: 9x9x9x9 would be 9^4/ 9 to the 4th power
lmk if you need more help!!!