Exponent Calculator - Raise Base to a Power
The exponent calculator raises a base to an exponent (power) using the formula result = base^exponent. It supports negative and decimal exponents, making it useful for math homework, science, and everyday calculations.
Enter a base and an exponent to see the result.
How it works
What is exponentiation?
Exponentiation raises a base to an exponent (power) and is written base^exponent. For a positive whole-number exponent, it means multiplying the base by itself that many times.
For example, 2^3 equals 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. The base is the number being multiplied, and the exponent tells you how many times to use it.
Negative and decimal exponents
A negative exponent gives the reciprocal: 2^-2 = 1 / (2^2) = 0.25. A decimal exponent represents a root: 9^0.5 is the square root of 9, which is 3.
This calculator handles all of these cases, so you can explore powers, reciprocals, and roots without switching tools.
Frequently asked questions
โบWhat does base^exponent mean?
It means raising the base to the given power. For a whole exponent, multiply the base by itself that many times, so 3^4 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81.
โบCan I use negative exponents?
Yes. A negative exponent returns the reciprocal of the positive power, so 2^-3 = 1 / (2^3) = 0.125.
โบWhat does a decimal exponent do?
A decimal exponent represents a root. For example, 16^0.5 is the square root of 16, which equals 4.
โบWhat is any number raised to the power of 0?
Any nonzero number raised to the power of 0 equals 1. The case 0^0 is generally treated as 1 in most calculators.
โบCan the base be negative?
Yes for whole-number exponents. A negative base with a fractional exponent may not give a real number, so the result can be undefined.
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