Step 3
f(x) = m54
f(x)= m×m = m2.
m2×m2 = m4
m4×m4 = m8
m8 ×m8 = m16
m16×m16 = m32
m32×m32 = m64
Since 64 is greater than 54, we stop the multiplication operation here.
In step 4, we will have to subtract the penultimate exponent (32) from the exponent that we are calculating (54).
Step 4 .
Hence, 54-32=22.
Therefore we can rewrite f(x)=m310 as:
f(x)=m256×m32×m22
So how do we calculate f(x)=m22 yet 22 does not fall on the 2n sequence? We do this by engaging in the same multiplication operation involving exponents of the 2nsequence until we get a result greater than 22. This will be step five.