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Exponent (Power of) Calculator

LAST UPDATE: September 24th, 2020

Exponents Calculator

Definition – What is an exponent?

An exponent is the number of times to multiply a number by itself.

Write an exponent as a raised number. In the number 24 (2 to the exponent 4, or 2 to the power of 4), the ‘4’ is the exponent. The ‘2’ is the number to multiply by itself 4 times over. In this case 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16.

Formula – How to Solve for an Exponent

Find exponent of a number by multiplying that number by itself the number of the exponent times.

number2 = number x number

number3 = number x number x number

number4 = number x number x number x number

Example

32 = 3 x 3 = 9

95 = 9 x 9 x 9 x 9 x 9 = 59,049

510 = 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 = 9,765,625

Exponent Rules (Laws of Exponents)

Product with same base

To multiply similar bases, keep the base the same and add the exponents.

xa • xb = x(a + b)

Example: 73 • 75 = 7(3 + 5) = 78 = 5,764,801

Exponent of an Exponent (or Power to a Power)

To calculate an exponent of an exponent, multiply the exponents together.

(xa)b = x(a • b) = xab

Example: (43)2 = 4(3 • 2) = 46 = 4,096

Dividing Numbers with Exponents (Quotients with the Same Base)

To divide two bases with the same exponent, subtract the denominator exponent from the numerator exponent.

xa ÷ xb = x(a – b )

Example: 57 ÷ 53 = 5(7 – 3) = 54 = 625

Multiplied Numbers to an Exponent

Multiplied numbers to a power can be both raised to that power.

(xy)z = xz • yz

Example: (9x)5 = 95x5 = 59,049x5

Dividing to an exponent

To divide a fraction that is raised to an exponent, give the exponent to both the numerator and the denominator.

(x ÷ y)z = xz ÷ yz

Example: (7 ÷ 5)4 = 74 ÷ 54 = 2,401 ÷ 625 = 3.8416

Exponent of 0

Any number to the power of 0 is 1.

x0 = 1

Example: 4500 = 1

Negative Exponents

Negative exponents can be converted to 1 divided by the baseexponent

x-a = 1 ÷ 1a

Example: 6-4 = 1 ÷ 64 = 1 ÷ 1,296 = 0.0007716

Dividing with a Negative Exponent

Numbers with negative exponents as the denominator can be changed to the numerator and the exponent made positive.

1 ÷ x-a = xa

Example: 1 ÷ 3-4 = 34 = 81

How to type exponents

  • In Microsoft Word and other Office products, right-click and select Font to open the font menu. Select “Superscript.”
  • In Google Docs and other products, hi-light the text you want to have as an exponent. Select “Format” -> “Text” -> “Superscript.”
  • In HTML and web documents, surround the exponent with <sup></sup> tags.
  • In LaTeX notation, use the ^ symbol before the exponent. If there is more than one character in the exponent, wrap the characters in (brackets).

Exponents Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an exponent (in math)?

An exponent is the number of times to multiply a number by itself. For example, 3 to the 4th (written 3) means 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81. It is not the same as 3 x 4 (12).

What is the difference between "Power Of" and "Exponent"?

They are the same thing. Most people use the terms “to the power of” and “to the exponent” interchangeably.
We find that if describing a thing, “the exponent” is a more natural term. (“What is the exponent on the number in that equation?” sounds better than “What is the power of on the number in that equation?”).
If describing the action, “power of” is a more natural term (“Calculate five to the power of three” sounds better than “Calculate five to the exponent three”).

What is a negative exponent?

A negative exponent means the number of times to divide the number. 34 (a positive exponent) means to multiply 3 times itself 4 times (3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81). 3-4 (a negative exponent) means to divide 3 by itself 4 times (3 ÷ 3 ÷ 3 ÷ 3 = 0.012346).

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