Ex*po"nent (?), n. [L. exponens, -entis, p. pr. of exponere to put out, set forth, expose. See Expound.]
1. Alg.
A number, letter, or any quantity written on the right hand of and above another quantity, and denoting how many times the latter is repeated as a factor to produce the power indicated
; thus
a² denotes the second power, and
an the
xth power, of
a (2 and x being the
exponents). A fractional
exponent, or index, is used to denote the root of a quantity. Thus,
aࡩ denotes the third or cube root of
a.
2.
One who, or that which, stands as an index or representative; as, the leader of a party is the exponent of its principles.
Exponent of a ratio, the quotient arising when the antecedent is divided by the consequent; thus, 6 is the exponent of the ratio of 30 to 5. [R.]
© Webster 1913.