Exponets are numbers that are meing multiplyed by that number. For example 5 and 5 as an exponet. You have to multiple 5 and 5. Like this 5x5x5x5x5, exponets simplfy that to look smaller. At first I didn't get it, this was in the 3rd or 4th grade. Then my teacher explained it like how I did right now. These exponets are just a way of simplfing.
So that's what exponents are, they can be confusing but all you have ti think about is its a way of simplification.