Exponent Calculator
Use this free online exponent calculator to compute powers quickly. Enter a base and exponent to calculate the result instantly. Supports positive, negative, and fractional exponents.
Enter Values
The number being raised to a power
The power to raise the base to
Result
Enter values above and click Calculate to see your result.
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Formula
An exponent tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself. For example, 2^3 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. Negative exponents give the reciprocal, and fractional exponents represent roots.
Worked Example
What Are Exponents?
- 2^3 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8 (the base 2 is multiplied 3 times)
- 5^0 = 1 (any non-zero number to the power of 0 equals 1)
- 2^-3 = 1/(2^3) = 1/8 = 0.125 (negative exponents create fractions)
- 9^0.5 = sqrt(9) = 3 (fractional exponents represent roots)
Exponents appear everywhere: compound interest in finance, population growth in biology, signal strength in physics, and data scaling in computing. Mastering exponents is essential for higher mathematics and real-world problem solving.
You can also calculate changes using our Scientific Calculator or Square Root Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an exponent mean?
An exponent tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself. For example, 3^4 means 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81. The base is 3, and the exponent is 4.
What is a negative exponent?
A negative exponent means "take the reciprocal." For example, 2^-3 = 1/(2^3) = 1/8 = 0.125. It flips the result into a fraction.
Why does any number to the power of 0 equal 1?
By the pattern rule: 2^3 = 8, 2^2 = 4, 2^1 = 2. Each step divides by 2, so 2^0 = 2/2 = 1. This holds for any non-zero base. The expression 0^0 is generally treated as undefined.
What is a fractional exponent?
A fractional exponent represents a root. For example, x^(1/2) = sqrt(x) and x^(1/3) = cube root of x. So 27^(1/3) = 3 because 3 x 3 x 3 = 27.
How do exponents work with negative bases?
A negative base raised to an even exponent gives a positive result: (-2)^4 = 16. A negative base raised to an odd exponent gives a negative result: (-2)^3 = -8.
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