1
Enter the base
Use the number that will be multiplied, inverted, or rooted.
Free Exponent Calculator
An exponent calculator raises a base to a selected power. Calculate positive, negative, zero, decimal, or fraction exponents and see the real-number power or root rule step by step.
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Turn exponent skills into differentiated instruction
Connect student needs, IEP goals, accommodations, and classroom-ready lesson planning.
Power and root calculator
Enter a base and exponent
Result
Result: 1024
2^(10) = 1024
Exponent rule
2^10 means the base is used as a factor 10 times.
Step-by-step explanation
- 1Identify the base as 2 and the exponent as 10.
- 22^10 means the base is used as a factor 10 times.
- 3Evaluate the power to get 1024.
- 4Check the sign and magnitude: the real-number result is 1024.
How to Calculate Exponents
2
Enter the exponent
Use a whole number, decimal, scientific notation, or fraction such as 1/3.
3
Review each step
Check the applied rule, substituted values, and real-number result.
Common Exponent Rules
Positive powers
a^n multiplies n copies of the base a.
Zero exponent
a^0 = 1 when a is not zero.
Negative exponent
a^(-n) = 1 / a^n.
Fraction exponent
a^(p/q) = (qth root of a)^p when the real root exists.
Exponent Calculator FAQ
What is an exponent calculator?
An exponent calculator raises a base to a selected power. It evaluates expressions such as 2 to the 10th power, 5 to the negative third power, and 81 to the one-half power.
What does a negative exponent mean?
A negative exponent means take the reciprocal of the corresponding positive power. For example, 5 to the negative third power equals 1 divided by 5 cubed, or 0.008.
How do fractional exponents work?
The denominator gives the root and the numerator gives the power. For example, 81 to the one-half power is the square root of 81, which equals 9.
Can a negative base have a fractional exponent?
Some can. A reduced fraction with an odd denominator can produce a real result, such as negative 8 to the one-third power equaling negative 2. Even roots of negative numbers are not real.
What is any number to the zero power?
Every nonzero base raised to the zero power equals 1. The expression zero to the zero power is indeterminate, so this calculator does not assign it a numeric value.