Exponent calculator
Raise any number to any power — including negative and fractional exponents. The calculator handles exponents that stand for roots too.
2 to the power of 10 is 1024.
Formula
a is the base and n the exponent. The exponent says how many times the base is multiplied by itself.
How we got there
A negative exponent gives the reciprocal (2⁻² = 0.25) and a fractional one means a root (16^0.5 = 4).
How to work out a power by hand
- Write out the multiplication
2¹⁰ is ten twos multiplied together.
- Multiply in stages
2⁵ = 32, so 2¹⁰ = 32 × 32 = 1024. Halving the exponent shortens the work.
- Remember the special cases
Any number to the power 0 is 1, and to the power 1 is itself.
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Frequently asked questions
1024. It is worth remembering — it turns up in computing as a kilobyte.
The reciprocal of the power: 2⁻² = 1 ÷ 2² = 0.25.
A root. 16^(1/2) is the square root of 16, which is 4.
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