Exponent Calculator

Raise a base to a power. Works with positive, negative, zero and fractional exponents.

Reviewed by the WorldCalcs team · Methodology · Last reviewed: June 2026

Result

1 024

What is an exponent?

An exponent tells you how many times to multiply a number, the base, by itself. In 2⁵, the base is 2 and the exponent is 5, so the value is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32. Exponents are a compact way to write repeated multiplication and appear throughout science, finance and computing.

How exponents work

A positive whole exponent means repeated multiplication: 2¹⁰ = 1024. A zero exponent always gives 1 (any non-zero number to the power 0 is 1). A negative exponent means the reciprocal: 2⁻³ = 1 ÷ 2³ = 0.125. A fractional exponent means a root: raising to the power ½ is a square root and to ⅓ a cube root, so 9^½ = 3.

Example

2¹⁰ means 2 multiplied by itself ten times, which equals 1024. As another example, 5³ = 5 × 5 × 5 = 125, and 2⁻³ = 1 ÷ (2 × 2 × 2) = 0.125.

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Results are estimates and may contain errors — for general information only, not professional advice. Always verify before relying on them. Disclaimer

How to use

Enter the base and the exponent, then read the result. The calculator handles whole-number, negative, and fractional powers.

A negative base with a fractional exponent has no real value and is flagged as undefined. Very large or very small results are shown in scientific notation.

Frequently asked questions

What does a negative exponent mean?+

A negative exponent is the reciprocal of the positive power. So 2⁻³ = 1 ÷ 2³ = 1 ÷ 8 = 0.125.

What is anything to the power of zero?+

Any non-zero number raised to the power 0 equals 1. This keeps the rules of exponents consistent.

What does a fractional exponent mean?+

A fractional exponent is a root. The power ½ is a square root and ⅓ is a cube root, so 8^⅓ = 2 and 9^½ = 3.

Can the base be negative?+

Yes for whole-number exponents — (−2)³ = −8. A negative base with a fractional exponent has no real value, so it is left undefined here.

What is the difference between an exponent and a multiple?+

Multiplying adds copies of a number (3 × 4 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3), while an exponent multiplies copies (3⁴ = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 81).