section_path: Integer exponents/Combinatorial interpretation
section_name: Combinatorial interpretation
paragraph_text: Combinatorial interpretation
  
  For nonnegative integers n and m, the value of n is the number of functions from a set of m elements to a set of n elements (see cardinal exponentiation). Such functions can be represented as m - tuples from an n -element set (or as m -letter words from an n -letter alphabet). Some examples for particular values of m and n are given in the following table: