In mathematical terms, what does an exponent signify?

An exponent signifies the number of times the base is multiplied by itself. In mathematical notation, if you have a base 'a' and an exponent 'n', it is expressed as ( a^n ), which means that 'a' is multiplied by itself 'n' times. For example, ( 3^4 ) means ( 3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 ), which equals 81. This concept is fundamental in understanding how exponents work and lays the groundwork for more advanced mathematical operations involving powers.

The other options fail to capture this essential aspect of exponents. For instance, referring to the base being squared inaccurately limits the operation to just squaring the base rather than encompassing all exponentiation. Additionally, stating that the base is multiplied by one does not reflect the operation defined by an exponent, and dividing the base by itself does not relate to exponentiation at all.