ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pochhammer k-symbol

The pochhammer k-symbol is a math thingy that helps us figure out the answer when we need to do a lot of multiplying. It's like when you need to count how many apples you have but instead of counting one by one, you can use the symbol to make things easier and faster.

The symbol looks like this: (x)_k. The "x" represents a number, like 3 or 6 or 10, and the "k" represents another number, like 2 or 4 or 6.

Now, let's say we want to figure out what (3)_2 means. This means we need to multiply 3 by itself twice. So, 3 x 3 = 9, and then 9 x 3 = 27. Therefore, (3)_2 = 27.

But what if we want to figure out what (5)_4 means? This means we need to multiply 5 by itself four times. So, 5 x 5 = 25, then 25 x 5 = 125, then 125 x 5 = 625, and finally 625 x 5 = 3125. Therefore, (5)_4 = 3125.

See how the pochhammer k-symbol helps us figure out these big multiplication problems quickly? It's a handy tool in math that makes our lives easier!