The basic concept of, "this is one. This is also one. If you put them together you will have two."
But when you think about it, multiplication as a whole is just a fancy way of shortening the "1+1+1+1+1" down to "1x5".
Exponents are just a fancy way of shortening "5x5x5x5x5" to "5^5".
So what if they never invent these high steps at all? Just sticking with the basics because, to them, making such an absurd system seem convoluted? After all, you're doing the exact same thing regardless. So why make it more complicated than it needs to be?
what if our system is too complicated for them and they even compressed their math stuff more? to a point we don't can't understand anymore because they think different and we don't know what tricks / stuff they use? what if they do that to such a high level, that we don't even recognize it as math anymore because it's too strange / different for us? what if they already send us their math as a try to communicate with us but we thinking it's random or whatever else data (just not math/communication)?
Well, humans don’t even have the same math as humans over time. We have expanded and perfected concepts i.e. how to calculate the area under a curve. That being said, 1 plus 1 always equals 2, a circle’s circumference divided by it’s diameter is always pi, and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13 are always prime numbers. In fact one possible way to confirm that a signal from outer space is a message from intelligent life is to see if they recognize prime numbers.
There is the problem of what if they use a different number base? Humans use 10 base for basic stuff and computers use binary. What if they use 12 base or 32 base? Or what if they use a different number base for different subjects?
But when you think about it, multiplication as a whole is just a fancy way of shortening the "1+1+1+1+1" down to "1x5".
Exponents are just a fancy way of shortening "5x5x5x5x5" to "5^5".
So what if they never invent these high steps at all? Just sticking with the basics because, to them, making such an absurd system seem convoluted? After all, you're doing the exact same thing regardless. So why make it more complicated than it needs to be?
..i should get sleep :p