Exponent Calculator

Raise any base to any power, including negative and fractional exponents.

What the Exponent Calculator does

An exponent tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself. A negative exponent means the reciprocal, and a fractional exponent means a root: x^(1/2) is the square root of x.

Formula

  • aⁿ = a × a × … × a (n times)
  • a⁻ⁿ = 1 ÷ aⁿ
  • a^(m/n) = ⁿ√(aᵐ)

Inputs explained

InputUnitRequiredNotes
BasenumberYes
ExponentnumberYes

How to use it

  1. Enter Base and Exponent.
  2. Select Calculate.

Worked example

Compute 2 to the power of 10.

Base
2
Exponent
10

2¹⁰ = 1,024.

Frequently asked questions

Why is anything to the power of zero equal to 1?

Because aⁿ ÷ aⁿ = a⁰ and any non-zero number divided by itself is 1. 0⁰ is left undefined by convention.

Can I raise a negative number to a fractional power?

Not within the real numbers — (−8)^(1/2) has no real answer. Odd roots like the cube root of −8 do work; use the cube root calculator.

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