Raise any number to a power. This free exponent calculator handles positive, negative and fractional exponents — squares, cubes, reciprocals and roots — with scientific notation.
base exponent
Enter a base and an exponent to compute the power. Exponents can be negative (reciprocal), fractional (roots) or decimal — for example 2⁻¹ = 0.5 and 27^(1/3) = 3.
Result
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Enter base and exponent
Expression
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Scientific notation
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Reciprocal (1 ÷ result)
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Square of result
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An exponent (or power) tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself. A negative exponent means the reciprocal; a fractional exponent means a root.
Use this free exponent calculator to raise any number to a power. Enter a base and an exponent — positive, negative, fractional or decimal — and get the result, with scientific notation.
What this exponent calculator does
An exponent calculator computes base raised to a power (bᵉ). It handles whole, negative and fractional exponents, so you can find squares and cubes, reciprocals (negative powers) and roots (fractional powers) all in one place.
How exponents work
bⁿ = b × b × … × b (n times)
b⁻ⁿ = 1 ÷ bⁿ (negative = reciprocal)
b^(1/n) = ⁿ√b (fraction = root)
So 2¹⁰ = 1024, 2⁻¹ = 0.5, and 27^(1/3) = 3 (the cube root of 27).
Exponent rules
Rule
Example
Anything to the power 0 = 1
5⁰ = 1
Negative power = reciprocal
10⁻³ = 0.001
Fractional power = root
16^(1/2) = 4
Multiply powers (same base)
2² × 2³ = 2⁵
A note on negative bases
A negative base with a fractional exponent (like (−2)^0.5) has no real value, since it would be a root of a negative number. With whole-number exponents it’s fine: (−2)³ = −8.
How to use the exponent calculator
Enter the base.
Enter the exponent (can be negative or a decimal).
Read the result and its scientific notation.
Exponent FAQ
How do I calculate an exponent?
Multiply the base by itself as many times as the exponent. 2¹⁰ means 2 multiplied ten times, which is 1024. Just enter the base and power.
What does a negative exponent mean?
It's the reciprocal: b⁻ⁿ = 1 ÷ bⁿ. So 2⁻¹ = 0.5 and 10⁻³ = 0.001.
What does a fractional exponent mean?
It's a root: b^(1/n) is the nth root of b. For example 27^(1/3) = 3 and 16^(1/2) = 4.
What is anything to the power of zero?
Any non-zero number to the power 0 equals 1. (0⁰ is generally treated as undefined or 1 depending on context.)
Why can't I raise a negative number to a fractional power?
Because it would require a root of a negative number, which has no real value. Negative bases work fine with whole-number exponents, like (−2)³ = −8.
Is the exponent calculator free?
Yes, this exponent calculator is completely free, needs no sign-up, and gives instant results in your browser.
