What indicates the roots of a number in mathematical terms?

A fractional exponent indicates the roots of a number because it is a mathematical way to express radical operations. For example, the square root of a number can be represented as raising that number to the power of 1/2, which demonstrates the relationship between exponents and roots. Similarly, the cube root of a number can be expressed as raising the number to the power of 1/3. This concept emphasizes how roots can be efficiently conveyed using fractional exponents, making it a key aspect of exponentiation in algebra.

The other options, while related to numbers, do not specifically indicate roots. A perfect square refers to a number that can be expressed as the square of an integer, rather than a general indication of roots. An integer is a whole number, positive or negative, without any fractional or decimal component, which does not relate to the concept of roots. Whole numbers are non-negative integers and do not imply any operational relationship to roots in the same manner as fractional exponents do.