How can I write rising exponents in latex?

Question

How can I write this expression in latex

Did you try $a^{b^c}$ ? – Jasper Habicht Sep 18 '22 at 09:44 — Jasper Habicht, Sep 18 '22 at 09:44

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 18 '22 at 10:01

a^b^c is intentionally a syntax error to force you to choose which of the following you mean:

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
$a=3, b=2, c=3$
[
{a^b}^c = 9^3 = 729, 
a^{b^c} = 3^8 =6561
]
\end{document}

Note in the first form c is a superscript (7pt) but in the second it is in scriptscript style (5pt)

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 18 '22 at 09:04

3

It's as simple as typing it out straight

a^{b^c}

answered Sep 18 '22 at 09:04

antshar

1

or (depending on the intended meaning) {a^b}^c, you could show both – David Carlisle Sep 18 '22 at 09:15
But this is only $a^{bc}$… – Bernard Sep 18 '22 at 12:17

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 18 '22 at 10:41

3

I’m gonna take your question literally. ;-)

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
Hello, world.
\includegraphics{exponent.png}
\end{document}

answered Sep 18 '22 at 10:41

Gaussler

2

Next challenge is to recreate the image completely with tikz – antshar Sep 18 '22 at 10:49
3

I also am expecting semantically meaningful translation to MathML from this input. – David Carlisle Sep 18 '22 at 11:41
@DavidCarlisle There are actually apps for that nowadays. – Gaussler Sep 18 '22 at 13:22
1

@Gaussler mathpix got close but did not recognise the b so produced $a^c$ – David Carlisle Sep 18 '22 at 13:33
2

Seeing this kind of joke here is so refreshing. – SebGlav Sep 18 '22 at 14:14

3 Answers3