What does the exponent indicate in exponential notation?

The exponent in exponential notation signifies how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. For instance, in the expression (2^3), the base is 2 and the exponent is 3. This means you multiply 2 by itself a total of three times: (2 \times 2 \times 2), which equals 8. Thus, the exponent precisely defines the repeated multiplication of the base rather than addition or any other operation.

Understanding this concept is fundamental to working with powers, as it sets the foundation for more complex mathematical topics, such as polynomial expressions or even exponential growth in functions. Each of the other options misrepresents the role of the exponent, as it does not pertain to addition, total value, or the coefficient of a term.