As you can see, we have multiplied the results of each operation by itself until we got a result that was greater than the value of the exponent (310). Next, we need to take into consideration the exponent value 256. This is the penultimate exponent value in the 2ⁿ sequence table above and it is less than the exponent value 310 that we are calculating and it is also less than the exponent value 512 (which is the exponent value in the²ⁿ sequence greater than the value we are calculating).

This exponent should always fall in the penultimate row. We have no use for the ultimate row other than the fact that the final row acts as a place holder. It marks the place where the operation needs to stop but the final row itself is not involved in any mathematical calculations.

The second step will involve subtracting the penultimate exponent from the exponent that we are calculating.