Exponent Calculator for Powers & Exponents
Calculate powers and exponents instantly. Enter a base and exponent to find accurate results for positive, negative, zero, fractional and decimal powers.
This free online power calculator also provides expanded calculations, scientific notation and helpful calculation details so you can understand how the result is obtained.
Calculate the Power
Enter a base and exponent to calculate the power.
The number that will be raised to a power.
The power applied to the base.
Quick Examples
Click to useCalculation Result
Power Result
Ready to calculate
Enter a base and exponent, then select Calculate Power to see your result.
About This Calculator
What Is an Exponent Calculator?
An exponent calculator is a tool used to calculate a number raised to a power. In an expression such as 2⁸, 2 is the base and 8 is the exponent. The exponent describes the power applied to the base.
This free online power calculator can help you calculate positive, negative and zero exponents while showing the resulting value, expanded form and additional calculation information.
Step-by-Step Calculation
Review the calculation steps for your exponent result.
Calculator Features
Everything You Need to Calculate Powers
Use the exponent calculator for quick power calculations and useful supporting information.
Powers & Exponents
Calculate a base raised to a supported exponent.
Negative Powers
Calculate reciprocal powers such as 2⁻³.
Zero Exponents
Calculate zero powers for valid nonzero bases.
Decimal Powers
Enter decimal or fractional-style exponent values supported by the calculator.
Scientific Notation
View very large or very small results in scientific notation.
Calculation Steps
Review supporting calculation information.
Copy Results
Copy the generated result for easy reuse.
Download
Download the available calculation result.
Simple Process
How to Use the Exponent Calculator
Calculate a power in just a few simple steps.
Enter the Base
Enter the number that you want to raise to a power.
Enter the Exponent
Enter the exponent or power you want to calculate.
Calculate
Click Calculate Power to process the expression.
Review the Result
Review the answer, expanded form and additional details.
Common Uses
Where Can an Exponent Calculator Help?
School Mathematics
Check power calculations while studying exponents and powers.
Algebra
Calculate numerical powers used in algebraic expressions.
Scientific Calculations
Work with very large or very small values using scientific notation.
Homework Checking
Quickly verify power calculations and numerical results.
Negative Exponents
Calculate reciprocal values created by negative powers.
Quick Calculations
Get a power result without manually performing repeated multiplication.
Mathematics
Exponent Formula
When a is the base and b is a positive integer, the base is multiplied by itself b times.
For example, 2⁸ means multiplying 2 by itself eight times: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 256.
Quick Reference
Important Exponent Rules
For a nonzero base.
A first power leaves the base unchanged.
A negative exponent represents a reciprocal.
When multiplying powers with the same base, add exponents.
Understanding Exponents
Base, Exponent and Power Explained
In the expression aᵇ, the number a is called the base and b is the exponent.
The final numerical value obtained after applying the exponent is commonly called the power or result.
For example, in 5³, 5 is the base and 3 is the exponent. The calculation is 5 × 5 × 5 = 125.
Important Information
Things to Know About Exponents
Zero Exponent
For a nonzero base, raising the number to the zero power gives 1.
Negative Exponent
A negative exponent represents the reciprocal of the corresponding positive power.
Decimal Exponents
Decimal exponents can represent roots and other fractional powers, depending on the base and value.
Large Results
Powers can grow very quickly, so large results may be easier to read in scientific notation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about powers and exponents.
What is an exponent?
An exponent indicates the power to which a base is raised. For a positive integer exponent, it represents repeated multiplication of the base.
What is 2⁸?
2⁸ = 256.
What happens with a negative exponent?
A negative exponent represents a reciprocal. For example, 2⁻³ = 1 / 2³ = 1/8.
What does an exponent of zero mean?
For a nonzero base, any number raised to the zero power equals 1.
Can I calculate negative powers?
Yes. Enter a negative exponent, such as -3, to calculate a reciprocal power such as 2⁻³.
What is the difference between a base and an exponent?
The base is the number being raised to a power, while the exponent specifies the power applied to that base.
Calculate Powers in Seconds
Enter your base and exponent above to calculate the power, review the result and understand the calculation.
Calculate an Exponent