What's the little number on the top of a number w/ unit?











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1
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I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft with the little 3 on top like in the 75 in². What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.










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  • 7




    Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
    – chasly from UK
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    7 hours ago








  • 2




    I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    "This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago















up vote
1
down vote

favorite
1












I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft with the little 3 on top like in the 75 in². What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.










share|improve this question




















  • 7




    Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
    – chasly from UK
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    7 hours ago








  • 2




    I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    "This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
1
down vote

favorite
1






1





I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft with the little 3 on top like in the 75 in². What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.










share|improve this question















I want to ask what is the little numbers on top/over any random number? For example, 75 in² and 125 ft with the little 3 on top like in the 75 in². What is it called and what does it mean is my question. I couldn't find anything online since I don't know what it is called.







phrase-requests mathematics






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share|improve this question













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share|improve this question








edited 1 hour ago









eckes

1033




1033










asked 8 hours ago









Annie Chen

507




507








  • 7




    Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
    – chasly from UK
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    7 hours ago








  • 2




    I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    "This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago














  • 7




    Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
    – chasly from UK
    7 hours ago






  • 3




    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    7 hours ago






  • 1




    I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
    – Robbie Goodwin
    7 hours ago








  • 2




    I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    "This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
    – Phil Sweet
    6 hours ago








7




7




Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
7 hours ago




Note that 'random number' has a special meaning in computing and mathematics. I would use 'arbitrary number' ;-)
– chasly from UK
7 hours ago




3




3




I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
7 hours ago




I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about mathematics, not English.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
7 hours ago




1




1




I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
7 hours ago






I'd be with Janus, 100%, if it was clear what you meant. Are you asking about the mathematical value of that little number on the top, or the typographical description? Either way, this isn't about general English, so I'm back with Janus.
– Robbie Goodwin
7 hours ago






2




2




I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
6 hours ago




I think exponent will help you more than superscript.
– Phil Sweet
6 hours ago




3




3




"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
6 hours ago




"This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English." - Mathematics tag description.
– Phil Sweet
6 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
12
down vote













In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.



In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.



Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.






share|improve this answer










New contributor




TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.














  • 3




    This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
    – Mike Harris
    6 hours ago






  • 3




    Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
    – Chris H
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
    – Walter Mitty
    2 hours ago










  • I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
    – Phil Sweet
    2 hours ago


















up vote
2
down vote













The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.



The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.



Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    0
    down vote













    Exponent




    3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
    the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
    multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
    (m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
    or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
    their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
    newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
    stress), respectively.




    SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
    https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf






    share|improve this answer





















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      3 Answers
      3






      active

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      3 Answers
      3






      active

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      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

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      up vote
      12
      down vote













      In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.



      In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.



      Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.














      • 3




        This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
        – Mike Harris
        6 hours ago






      • 3




        Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
        – Chris H
        6 hours ago






      • 1




        75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
        – Walter Mitty
        2 hours ago










      • I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
        – Phil Sweet
        2 hours ago















      up vote
      12
      down vote













      In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.



      In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.



      Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.














      • 3




        This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
        – Mike Harris
        6 hours ago






      • 3




        Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
        – Chris H
        6 hours ago






      • 1




        75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
        – Walter Mitty
        2 hours ago










      • I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
        – Phil Sweet
        2 hours ago













      up vote
      12
      down vote










      up vote
      12
      down vote









      In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.



      In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.



      Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      In terms of formatting, numbers and letters that appear in the top half of a line are in superscript. Similarly, numbers in the bottom half of a line would be called subscript. "Super" and "sub" describe their position over or under the main text.



      In your examples, these superscript numbers stand for a mathematical exponent or power as applied to a unit of measurement. If I were reading it out loud, I might say "seventy-five inches squared," or (more clearly) "seventy-five square inches." It means that I am talking about a unit of distance extending in two dimensions. It's a measurement of surface area, just like houses can be measured in square feet (ft2) and land can be measured in square miles (mi2). The cubic version (in3) would refer to a measurement across three dimensions, or a measurement of volume.



      Other measurements can also be squared or cubed, especially when doing calculations in STEM fields, but square inches/feet/miles are the most common examples of this in the US.







      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited 2 hours ago









      bof

      222210




      222210






      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      answered 7 hours ago









      TaliesinMerlin

      1864




      1864




      New contributor




      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





      New contributor





      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      TaliesinMerlin is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.








      • 3




        This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
        – Mike Harris
        6 hours ago






      • 3




        Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
        – Chris H
        6 hours ago






      • 1




        75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
        – Walter Mitty
        2 hours ago










      • I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
        – Phil Sweet
        2 hours ago














      • 3




        This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
        – Mike Harris
        6 hours ago






      • 3




        Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
        – Chris H
        6 hours ago






      • 1




        75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
        – Walter Mitty
        2 hours ago










      • I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
        – Phil Sweet
        2 hours ago








      3




      3




      This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
      – Mike Harris
      6 hours ago




      This is a good point: superscript is a typographic term, whereas exponent and power describe the mathematical usage. It's anybody's guess which one OP had in mind.
      – Mike Harris
      6 hours ago




      3




      3




      Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
      – Chris H
      6 hours ago




      Of course you could be really evil and mean "75 inches, see footnote two". Then it would be a superscript but not an exponent.
      – Chris H
      6 hours ago




      1




      1




      75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
      – Walter Mitty
      2 hours ago




      75 inches square is not the same as 75 square inches.
      – Walter Mitty
      2 hours ago












      I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
      – Phil Sweet
      2 hours ago




      I somehow missed your exponent answer. If you want, I'll just add my answer to the bottom of yours for a reference and delete my answer.
      – Phil Sweet
      2 hours ago












      up vote
      2
      down vote













      The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.



      The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.



      Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        2
        down vote













        The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.



        The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.



        Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.






        share|improve this answer























          up vote
          2
          down vote










          up vote
          2
          down vote









          The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.



          The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.



          Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.






          share|improve this answer












          The general term for a number (or other text) written like this is superscript.



          The term in2 refers to square inches, which is the amount of area in a square with sides an inch in length.



          Likewise, if it were in3, it would be referring to cubic inches, which is the amount of volume in a cube with side lengths of an inch.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 7 hours ago









          Laurel

          29.4k655104




          29.4k655104






















              up vote
              0
              down vote













              Exponent




              3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
              the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
              multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
              (m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
              or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
              their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
              newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
              stress), respectively.




              SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
              https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                Exponent




                3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
                the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
                multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
                (m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
                or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
                their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
                newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
                stress), respectively.




                SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
                https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  0
                  down vote









                  Exponent




                  3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
                  the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
                  multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
                  (m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
                  or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
                  their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
                  newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
                  stress), respectively.




                  SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
                  https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf






                  share|improve this answer












                  Exponent




                  3.6 Derived Units— Derived units are formed by combining base units according to the algebraic relations linking
                  the corresponding quantities. Symbols for derived units are obtained by means of mathematical signs for
                  multiplication, division, and the use of exponents. For example, the SI unit for speed is the meter per second
                  (m/s or m·s–1 and that for density is kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
                  or kg·m–3). Most derived units have only
                  their composite names, such as meter per second for speed or velocity. Others have special names, such as
                  newton (N), joule (J), watt (W), and pascal (Pa), given to SI units of force, energy, power, and pressure (or
                  stress), respectively.




                  SAE Technical Standards Board: Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, Rev May 1999.
                  https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/tsb/tsb003.pdf







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 6 hours ago









                  Phil Sweet

                  9,57822045




                  9,57822045






























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