Exponent Calculator
Calculate a base raised to any power, including negative and fractional exponents.
Raising a number to a power — including negative and fractional exponents — is straightforward with the right formula, even though the results can grow (or shrink) surprisingly fast.
What negative and fractional exponents actually mean
A negative exponent means "take the reciprocal" (2⁻² = 1/2² = 0.25). A fractional exponent means "take a root" (8^(1/3) = the cube root of 8 = 2) — both follow directly from the standard rules of exponents, just applied in a less intuitive direction.
Frequently asked questions
Why does any number to the power of 0 equal 1?
This follows from the pattern of dividing consecutive powers of the same base — it's a mathematical convention that keeps exponent rules consistent, and it holds for every nonzero base.
Can the base be negative?
Yes — a negative base raised to an even exponent gives a positive result, while an odd exponent keeps it negative, following standard sign rules for multiplication.