Question

The digits $2, 0, 2,$ and $3$ are placed in the expression below, one digit per box. What is the maximum possible value of the expression?

$0$

$8$

$9$

$16$

$18$

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Note that we do not want $0$ as a base, since that would make the expression equal to $0.$

This means that $0$ must be an exponent. The number whose exponent is $0$ will automatically evaluate to $1.$

Therefore, we should minimize this number, so we can put $2^0.$

Now the other term is $2^3$ or $3^2.$ Clearly, $3^2$ is larger, so we should use that.

This gives us a final value of $2^0 \times 3^2 = 1 \times 9 = 9.$

Thus, C is the correct answer.