Jobs That Use Exponents

Exponents are widely used in higher level mathematics, allowing you to represent a number or variable that is multiplied by itself a specified number of times. For example, the exponent 23 represents the product of 2 x 2 x 2, or 8. Exponents are an important part of polynomial expressions, such as x2 + 5x + 3.

Uses of Exponents in Different Fields

As you may expect, scientists and mathematicians are among the top jobs that use exponents. Because an exponent allows you to express very large numbers in a compact way, many branches of science that work with large numbers use exponents. For example, a process known as carbon dating used to determine the age of fossil remains relies on a formula containing an exponent to calculate exponential decay. In addition to their use in jobs involving theoretical math and scientific research, there are many other occupations that rely on exponents and polynomials in the real word.

Computer Programmers and Computer Engineers

Some programmers work on mathematical applications that use exponents and polynomials, but there is an even more important role that exponents pay in many computer-related occupations. The architecture of most computers is based on a hexadecimal number system. Unlike the decimal number system, which uses base 10, a hexadecimal system uses base 16. Just as we need to be familiar with the exponents of 10 when we use base 10 (i.e., 10, 100, 1000), those who work with base 16 must be familiar with the exponents of 16. The jobs of computer programmer and computer engineer frequently require the ability to easily convert values from decimal to hexadecimal and vice versa.

Structural Engineers and Mechanical Engineers

Engineers who design structures and mechanical devices need to be able to calculate areas and volumes and to perform analysis of their designs, such as forecasting the stresses from wind or heat. The laws of physical science that guide engineering decisions are defined by expressions containing exponents and the calculations they need to make rely on the concepts of algebra and calculus, including exponents. Although many engineers now rely on computer applications to perform mathematical analysis, it’s still important for engineers to understand the math behind the computer results.

Actuaries and Statisticians

The insurance industry and many others types of businesses rely heavily on actuaries who use mathematics as well as their knowledge of business, economics and statistics to forecast risk. The job of an actuary is to gather and analyze data that will help them determine the probability of a catastrophic event occurring, such as a death or financial loss, and the expected impact of the event. Exponents and polynomials are used for this analysis. Like actuaries, statisticians are also concerned with the data collection and analysis. They frequently work with exponents when they use algebra and calculus to interpret the results of surveys and studies.