What is the value of 2⁴?

To find the value of 2⁴, you need to perform the operation of exponentiation, which means multiplying the base (in this case, 2) by itself a certain number of times indicated by the exponent (which is 4).

So, 2⁴ means you multiply 2 by itself four times:

2 × 2 × 2 × 2

Now, let's compute it step-by-step:

1. First, multiply the first two 2's:

2 × 2 = 4

2. Next, take that result and multiply it by the next 2:

4 × 2 = 8

3. Finally, take that result and multiply it by the last 2:

8 × 2 = 16

Thus, 2⁴ equals 16. This process shows how exponentiation works, and it confirms that the answer is indeed 16. Understanding how to break down and calculate the powers of numbers is fundamental in arithmetic and helps with more complex mathematical concepts later on.