Power Calculator

Power calculator for exponent problems (x^y) with clear, readable results

A power calculator helps you compute a base number raised to an exponent, written as x^y. This comes up constantly in real life: checking growth factors, scaling quantities up or down, working with scientific notation, and verifying math in homework or spreadsheets. If you have ever needed “2 to the power of 10” or “10 to the power of -3,” this is the tool you want.

This calculator is locked to one job: take a base (x) and an exponent (y) and compute x^y using the standard exponent rule. It is not a logarithm calculator, not a compound interest calculator, and not a unit converter. It simply answers the “raised to a power” question and then shows a few supporting details that make the result easier to interpret, especially when the number is very large or very small.

To use it, enter the base value and the exponent value, then click Calculate. The main output is the numeric result. If the result is extremely large or extremely small, you will also see scientific notation so the magnitude is obvious at a glance. If you enter a negative exponent, the result will be a fraction (the reciprocal of the positive power). If you want more control over how many decimals are shown, open the Advanced section and set the number of decimal places for display. Leaving Advanced blank is fine.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• This calculator uses the standard rule x^y (a base raised to an exponent) and follows normal real-number rules where they apply.
• Negative bases are supported only when the exponent is a whole number. If the exponent has decimals, the result is not a real number and the calculator will stop with a clear message.
• 0^0 is treated as undefined here, even though some software defines it for special cases. You will be shown an error instead of a misleading output.
• If the base is 0 and the exponent is negative, the result would require dividing by zero. The calculator will stop and explain why.
• Very large exponents can overflow normal number limits. When that happens, the calculator provides magnitude guidance instead of pretending the exact number is available.

Common questions

What is the difference between “power” and “multiplying by the exponent”?

Raising x to the power y means multiplying x by itself y times when y is a whole number. For example, 3^4 means 3 × 3 × 3 × 3, not 3 × 4. When the exponent is not a whole number, the meaning shifts to roots and fractional powers, which is why some inputs are restricted for negative bases.

Why does a negative exponent give a small decimal?

A negative exponent means “take the reciprocal.” For example, 2^-3 equals 1 / (2^3) = 1/8 = 0.125. Negative exponents are common when you are scaling down or when scientific notation uses negative powers of 10.

Why do I get an error for a negative base with a decimal exponent?

In real-number math, (-8)^(1/3) equals -2, but many decimal exponents are not exactly representable as clean fractions, and most cases lead to non-real (complex) results. This calculator is intentionally restricted to real outputs. If you need complex-number powers, you need a complex math tool, not a general-purpose calculator.

My result says “overflow” or looks like Infinity. Is that wrong?

It usually means the true value is too large for standard numeric precision in a browser. The math is not “wrong,” but the exact digits cannot be represented reliably. In those cases, use the scientific notation and magnitude hints to understand the scale, or reduce the problem (for example, use logarithms) if you need exact comparisons.

How can I make the output more readable?

Use the Advanced setting for decimal places to control rounding. For huge or tiny numbers, rely on scientific notation. If you are checking a manual calculation, start with smaller test values to confirm you typed the base and exponent correctly, then scale up.