The exponent indicates how many times the blank is used as a factor

?! so confused!

The exponent of a number says how many times to use the number in a multiplication. In 82 the "2" says to use 8 twice in a multiplication,

so 82 = 8 * 8 = 64

In words: 82 could be called "8 to the power 2" or "8 to the second power", or simply "8 squared"