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Exponent Calculator Calculate x raised to the power of n (xⁿ) with scientific notation output.

Exponent Calculator illustration
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Exponent Calculator

Calculate x raised to the power of n (xⁿ) with scientific notation output.

1

Enter Base

Type the base number (x) that you want to raise to a power.

2

Enter Exponent

Type the exponent (n) — the power to raise the base to.

3

View Result

See the result in both standard and scientific notation.

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What Is Exponent Calculator?

The exponent calculator computes x raised to the power n (written as xⁿ), which means multiplying x by itself n times when n is a positive integer. Exponents extend beyond integers: fractional exponents represent roots (x^(1/2) = √x), negative exponents represent reciprocals (x^(−1) = 1/x), and zero as an exponent yields 1 for any nonzero base (x^0 = 1, x ≠ 0). Exponential functions are fundamental across many fields for modeling growth and decay, compound interest, signal processing, and computational complexity analysis. This calculator handles the full range of inputs including negative bases, decimal exponents, and very large or very small results, displaying both the standard number and its scientific notation representation for clarity.

Why Use Exponent Calculator?

  • Handles integer, decimal, and negative exponents
  • Shows result in both standard and scientific notation
  • Computes results up to JavaScript's maximum precision
  • No sign-up or installation required
  • Instant computation with clear output formatting

Common Use Cases

Science Homework

Calculate powers for physics, chemistry, and biology formulas involving exponential relationships.

Financial Modeling

Compute compound growth factors using exponents.

Computer Science

Evaluate 2^n for binary system calculations and algorithm complexity.

Statistics

Raise values to powers for variance, standard deviation, and distribution calculations.

Technical Guide

Exponentiation is defined as repeated multiplication for positive integer exponents: x^n = x × x × ... × x (n times). The definition extends via these rules: x^0 = 1 (for x ≠ 0), x^(−n) = 1/(x^n), x^(a/b) = ᵇ√(x^a), and x^(a+b) = x^a × x^b. The calculator uses JavaScript's Math.pow() function, which implements the IEEE 754 standard for floating-point arithmetic. This handles special cases: 0^0 returns 1 (by convention in most computing contexts), negative bases with non-integer exponents may return NaN (since the result is complex), and very large results return Infinity when they exceed approximately 1.8 × 10^308. Scientific notation (e.g., 1.23e+15) is displayed using toExponential() for results that are very large or very small, providing a more readable format than a string of digits.

Tips & Best Practices

  • 1
    Any non-zero number raised to the power 0 equals 1
  • 2
    Negative exponents give reciprocals: 2^(−3) = 1/8
  • 3
    Fractional exponents represent roots: 8^(1/3) = 2 (cube root of 8)
  • 4
    For very large results, use the scientific notation display
  • 5
    A negative base with a non-integer exponent is not a real number

Related Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

Q What is 0 raised to the power 0?
By convention in most computing and combinatorial contexts, 0^0 = 1. However, in some mathematical analyses, it is considered an indeterminate form.
Q Can I use decimal exponents?
Yes. Decimal exponents represent fractional powers. For example, 4^0.5 = √4 = 2, and 8^(1/3) = ∛8 = 2.
Q What happens with very large results?
Results exceeding approximately 1.8 × 10^308 will show as Infinity. The calculator will also display results in scientific notation for very large numbers.
Q Can the base be negative?
Yes, for integer exponents. For non-integer exponents, a negative base produces complex numbers, which the calculator reports as an error.
Q What is scientific notation?
Scientific notation expresses numbers as a coefficient between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10. For example, 1,500,000 = 1.5 × 10^6.

About This Tool

Exponent Calculator is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.