In Topic B, students experience special notations of operations. They determine that 3x = x + x + x is not the same as x3, which is x times x times x. Applying their prior knowledge from Grade 5, where whole number exponents were used to express powers of ten (5.NBT.A.2), students examine exponents and carry out the order of operations, including exponents. Students demonstrate the meaning of exponents to write and evaluate numerical expressions with whole number exponents (6.EE.A.1).