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xⁿ Exponent Calculator

Compute powers, convert numbers to and from scientific notation, and explore exponent rules with worked examples. Handles negative and fractional exponents.

Calculate bn. Supports negative and fractional exponents.

Exponent Formulas

Power: bn = b × b × … × b (n times)
Negative exponent: b−n = 1 / bn
Fractional exponent: b1/n = ⁿ√b

Worked Examples

Example 1 — Negative Exponent

2−3 = 1 / 23 = 1 / 8 = 0.125

Example 2 — Fractional Exponent

160.5 = √16 = 4

Example 3 — Scientific Notation

0.000045 = 4.5 × 10−5

Frequently Asked Questions

An exponent indicates how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. For example, 2³ = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. Exponents are also called powers or indices.

A negative exponent means take the reciprocal. b⁻ⁿ = 1/bⁿ. For example, 2⁻³ = 1/8 = 0.125. Negative exponents represent very small fractions.

A fractional exponent represents a root. b^(1/n) = ⁿ√b. So 8^(1/3) = ∛8 = 2. More generally, b^(m/n) = (ⁿ√b)ᵐ.

Scientific notation expresses numbers as a × 10ⁿ, where 1 ≤ a < 10. It simplifies very large or very small numbers. For example, 0.00045 = 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ and 3,200,000 = 3.2 × 10⁶.

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