Free Online Calculator .net

Exponents Calculator

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

Exponent Notation:

This is a calculator with exponents. The number that follows the carat symbol (^) is the exponent value.

"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, -4^2 represents the additive inverse of 4^2. Thus -4^2 = -16. It may help to think of -x^2 as -1 * x^2 ..."[1]

Example:

• 3 raised to the power of 4 is written as 3 ^ 4 = 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 -3 ^ 3 = -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.