Exponent Calculator
What is an Exponent?
An exponent represents the number of times a number (the base) is multiplied by itself. For example, in the expression 2³, 2 is the base and 3 is the exponent, which means 2×2×2 = 8.
Exponent Rules
Product Rule
When multiplying expressions with the same base, add the exponents:
xa × xb = xa+b
Quotient Rule
When dividing expressions with the same base, subtract the exponents:
xa ÷ xb = xa-b
Power Rule
When raising a power to another power, multiply the exponents:
(xa)b = xa×b
Negative Exponents
A negative exponent means the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent:
x-a = 1 / xa
Applications of Exponents
Exponents are used in many areas of mathematics and science:
- Scientific notation for very large or small numbers
- Compound interest calculations in finance
- Exponential growth and decay models in science
- Computer science for data storage calculations
- Engineering for various power calculations
How to Use the Exponent Calculator
Our exponent calculator is simple to use:
- Enter the base number (any real number)
- Enter the exponent (can be positive, negative, or fractional)
- Click "Calculate" to see the result
- View the step-by-step solution to understand the calculation
The calculator handles special cases like negative bases with fractional exponents and provides accurate results for a wide range of inputs.