Even powers and perfect squares

Question

Does $2^{2k}$ (where $k$ is a natural number) always result in perfect squares?If so, why?I just tried it with a few values and it appears to be true. I need the result for this to simplify a question.

Answer 1

Hint Use the fact that $a^{bc}=(a^b)^c=(a^c)^b$ $$2^{2k}=(2^{k})^2$$