Is there a proper way to convert whole numbers to indices ?

Question

For example:

write 16 in terms of 2^x

I would put 2^4 as my answer, but how could I show my working out?

Answer 1

You can factor 16 into prime factors

 

2 * 2 * 2 * 2

 

You can then rewrite this as 2⁴

 

2⁴ = 2^x

 

then 4 = x