Math
Exponent Calculator
Raise any number to any power. Supports decimals, negatives, and large results in scientific notation.
Exponent
^
2^10 =
1,024
Scientific notation: 1.024000e+3
Frequently Asked Questions about the Exponent Calculator
What is an exponent?
An exponent tells you how many times to multiply a base by itself. In b^n, b is the base and n is the exponent (also called the power). For example, 2^5 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 32.
What does a negative exponent mean?
A negative exponent flips the result into a reciprocal. 2^-3 equals 1 / 2^3 = 1/8 = 0.125. The base moves to the denominator and the exponent becomes positive, so when the base is greater than 1 the result lands between 0 and 1.
How do fractional exponents work?
A fractional exponent represents a root. b^(1/n) is the n-th root of b, so 27^(1/3) = 3 because 3^3 = 27. More generally, b^(m/n) is the n-th root of b raised to the m-th power, so 8^(2/3) = (cube root of 8)^2 = 2^2 = 4.
Why does 0^0 cause trouble?
0^0 is mathematically indeterminate because the limit depends on how you approach it. In practice, this calculator follows the convention used by most programming languages and returns 1, which keeps power series and combinatorial formulas consistent.
Where are exponents used in real life?
Exponents appear in compound interest (A = P x (1 + r)^n), population growth, radioactive decay, computer storage (1 KB = 2^10 = 1,024 bytes), and scientific notation for very large or very small quantities like the distance to the sun (1.496 x 10^11 meters).