Exponents Calculator

Exponent Notation:

Example entries -4² or (-4)² will result in different answers.
Note that -4² = -1 * 4 * 4 = -16 while (-4)² = (-4) * (-4) = 16. See notes below.

This is an online calculator with exponents.

"When a minus sign occurs with exponential notation, a certain caution is in order. For example, (-4)² means that -4 is to be raised to the second power. Hence (-4)² = (-4) * (-4) = 16. On the other hand, -4² represents the additive inverse of 4². Thus -4² = -16. It may help to think of -x² as -1 * x² ..."[1]

Example:

• 3 raised to the power of 4 is written as 3⁴ = 81.
• -4 raised to the power of 2 is written (-4)² = 16.
• -3 raised to the power of 3 is written (-3)³ = -27. Note that in this case -3³ = -1 * 3 * 3 * 3 = (-3)³ = -3 * -3 * -3 = -27.
• For 0 raised to the 0 power the answer is 1 however this is considered a definition and not an actual calculation.

Exponent Laws:
(Each Law for Exponents)

References

[1] Algebra and Trigonometry: A Functions Approach; M. L. Keedy and Marvin L. Bittinger; Addison Wesley Publishing Company; 1982, page 11.

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/55709.html

For more detail on Exponent Theory see http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ExponentLaws.html

To calculate fractional exponents use our Fractional Exponents Calculator.

To calculate root or radicals use our Roots Calculator.