How to Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac

This wikiHow teaches you how to use a formula to calculate a power exponent's exact numeric value in an Excel spreadsheet, using a computer.

Steps

  1. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 1
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    Open Microsoft Excel on your computer. Find the Excel app in your Applications folder or on your Start menu, and open it.
  2. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 2
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    Create a new spreadsheet. Click the New button to create a new, blank spreadsheet where you can enter formulas and make calculations.
    • Alternatively, you can open a saved spreadsheet file and work on it.
  3. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 3
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    Double-click an empty cell. Find an empty cell where you can make your calculations, and double-click on it to edit the cell's contents.
  4. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 4
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    Type =POWER(base,power) into the empty cell. This formula will allow you to insert a base number and a power exponent, and see the result of the calculation.
  5. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 5
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    Replace base with the base number you want to multiply. Delete "base" in the formula, and enter the number you want to multiply here.
  6. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 6
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    Replace power with the exponent you want to apply. Delete "power" in the formula, and enter the power exponent you want to multiply your base number by.
    • For example, if you want to calculate 5 to the power of 3 (53), your formula should look like =POWER(5,3).
  7. Image titled Do Exponents in Excel on PC or Mac Step 7
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    Hit ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return on your keyboard. This will make the specified calculation, and show the result in the formula cell.
    • If you're calculating 53, you'll now see 125 here, which equals the third power of 5, instead of the formula.

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wikiHow Staff
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wikiHow Staff
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Co-authors: 1
Updated: May 15, 2018
Views: 9,303
Categories: Microsoft Excel
Article SummaryX

1. Open an Excel spreadsheet.
2. Double-click an empty cell.
3. Type =POWER(base,power).
4. Replace "base" with your base number.
5. Replace "power" with your exponent.
6. Hit Enter on your keyboard.

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