Exponent Calculator

Work out powers like 2⁵, (2/3)³, 2⁻³ or 8^(2/3) exactly, with the exponent rule used at each step.

Can be negative or a fraction, e.g. -3 or 2/3

Result

Enter values and press Calculate to see the result.

Formula

an=a×a×⋯×aa^n = a \times a \times \cdots \times a

n copies of a multiplied together.

a−n=1ana^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}

A negative exponent means one over the power.

ap/q=apqa^{p/q} = \sqrt[q]{a^p}

A fractional exponent is a root of a power.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the base and the exponent. The exponent can be a whole number, negative, or a fraction like 2/3.
  2. Press Calculate to see the exact answer and the rule used.

Worked example

8 to the power 2/3

8^(2/3) is the cube root of 8².

8² = 64, and the cube root of 64 is 4.

Frequently asked questions

What is anything to the power 0?

Any non-zero number to the power 0 is 1. 0⁰ is usually taken as 1 too, but some books leave it undefined.

Why can’t I raise a negative number to the power 1/2?

Power 1/2 means square root, and negative numbers have no real square root.