Compare Powers: Is 6¹ Greater Than 1⁶?

Exponent Rules with Base Comparisons

Which is larger?

61 ——16 6^1\text{ }_{——}1^6

❤️ Continue Your Math Journey!

We have hundreds of course questions with personalized recommendations + Account 100% premium

Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Determine which is greater?
00:06 Any number to the power of 1 equals the number itself
00:10 1 to the power of any number always equals 1
00:18 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Which is larger?

61 ——16 6^1\text{ }_{——}1^6

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll compare the two expressions 616^1 and 161^6 by computing each power:

  • Step 1: Calculate 616^1.
  • Since the exponent is 1, 61=66^1 = 6.
  • Step 2: Calculate 161^6.
  • Any number raised to a power of 6 is multiplied by itself six times. Here, 16=1×1×1×1×1×1=11^6 = 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 = 1.
  • Step 3: Compare the results.
  • 61=66^1 = 6 and 16=11^6 = 1.

Since 6>16 > 1, we conclude that 616^1 is larger than 161^6.

Therefore, the answer is >>.

3

Final Answer

> >

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Fundamental Rule: Any number to the power of 1 equals itself
  • Technique: Calculate each power separately: 61=6 6^1 = 6 and 16=1 1^6 = 1
  • Check: Compare final values numerically: 6 > 1, so 61>16 6^1 > 1^6

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Assuming larger exponents always mean larger results
    Don't think 16>61 1^6 > 6^1 because 6 > 1 as exponents = wrong answer 1 > 6! The base matters more than exponent size when bases differ greatly. Always calculate each power completely before comparing.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( 11^2= \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is 16 1^6 equal to 1?

+

The number 1 raised to any power always equals 1! This is because 16=1×1×1×1×1×1=1 1^6 = 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 \times 1 = 1 .

What if the exponent was 0 instead of 1?

+

Any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 equals 1. So 60=1 6^0 = 1 , making 60=16 6^0 = 1^6 in that case!

Does the order of comparison matter?

+

Yes! 61>16 6^1 > 1^6 means 6 is greater than 1. If you wrote 16<61 1^6 < 6^1 , that would also be correct but means 1 is less than 6.

How do I remember which symbol to use?

+

Think of the symbol as an arrow pointing to the smaller number. Since 1 < 6, the point of < faces the 1, giving us 16<61 1^6 < 6^1 or 61>16 6^1 > 1^6 .

What if both bases and exponents were different?

+

Calculate each power completely first! For example, with 23 2^3 vs 32 3^2 : find 23=8 2^3 = 8 and 32=9 3^2 = 9 , then compare 8 vs 9.

🌟 Unlock Your Math Potential

Get unlimited access to all 18 Powers and Roots - Basic questions, detailed video solutions, and personalized progress tracking.

📹

Unlimited Video Solutions

Step-by-step explanations for every problem

📊

Progress Analytics

Track your mastery across all topics

🚫

Ad-Free Learning

Focus on math without distractions

No credit card required • Cancel anytime

More Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations