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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. how is this read? p1 p2 p3 p4

• Thread starter matgen
• Start date Sep 22, 2018

M

matgen

New member

Joined Sep 22, 2018 Messages 4 hi im trying to figure out this problem im having. I can tell the number at the top means square but I don't know what the number at the bottom means... ie.. p1 p2 p3 p4 now square is obviously p1 p2 p3 p4 and this is without the problem p1 p2 p3 p4 thanks

tkhunny

Moderator

Staff member Joined Apr 12, 2005 Messages 11,325

matgen said: hi im trying to figure out this problem im having. I can tell the number at the top means square but I don't know what the number at the bottom means... ie.. p1 p2 p3 p4 now square is obviously p1 p2 p3 p4 and this is without the problem p1 p2 p3 p4 thanks Click to expand...

"square" No. That's only if it's a 2. Vocabulary Words: 1) Exponent 2) Subscript In actuarial notation, they mean about 10 other things, but this is a good start. M

matgen

New member

Joined Sep 22, 2018 Messages 4 so how is it read p1 p2 p3 how is it read with the small numbers at the bottom is it .. p base 1 p base 2 p base 3

mmm4444bot

Super Moderator

Joined Oct 6, 2005 Messages 10,958 Raised numbers are superscripts: p0 , p1 , p2 , p3 , p4 Lowered numbers are subscripts: x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 In arithmetic and beginning algebra, superscripted numbers are exponents: p2 is "p squared" p3 is "p cubed" p4 is "4th power of p" After introductory algebra, we see superscripts used for other purposes. Subscripts are often used to distinguish items in a list from one another, according to some definition. This notation usually beings with algebra, but you can find examples elsewhere -- even outside of math. A local hospital has multiple wings on most floors, and some executive decided to use the same room numbers in each wing: 3561 means Room 56 Bed 1, on the third floor of the main wing E3562 means Room 56 Bed 2, on the third floor of the east wing N3564 means Room 56 Bed 4, on the third floor of the north wing An example of subscript use in algebra is using symbols to represent values in a sequence (i.e., a list of ordered numbers). Here's one: powers of 2, begining with 21: P = {2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, …} P4 represents the fourth number in the list (the 4th power of 2), so we can write P4 = 16 P10 = 1024 Given P = 65536, you know it's a power of 2 but it's not clear which one. Using symbol P16 makes it clear that 65536 is 216. We can also show superscripts and subscripts without special characters or formatting commands. We use the caret symbol ^ and an underscore _ . P_16 = 2^16 = 65536 By the way, when I see notation like {P1, P2, P3} I think of subscripts.

Steven G

Elite Member

Joined Dec 30, 2014 Messages 14,603

matgen said: p1 p2 p3 how is it read with the small numbers at the bottom is it .. p base 1 p base 2 p base 3 Click to expand...

They are read as p sub 1, p sub 2, p sub3. We say sub because they are subscripts You must log in or register to reply here. Share: Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

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