The question I am answering today is how to enter exponents in Excel. For example, how would you get it to calculate two times two times two or two to the third power? You can also find these instructions in a video on my YouTube Channel.
One way you could do it is just do what I just did here: Type equal then two times two times two. You will get the right answer, which is eight.
However, that doesn’t work if you have a really big exponent or numbers that are hard to type in. For instance, two to the 22nd power or two to the 15th power. It would be tedious to continuously have to type that out. Basically, there are two ways you can type out two to the third or any other exponent.
Method #1: use the carat (^) symbol
The first way to enter exponents into Excel is to use the carrot symbol. If you type in two carat three or 2^3 that is the same as telling excel two to the 3rd power.
So, I’m going to paste in 2^3 and then it will calculate it for you.
Method #2: use the POWER() function
The second way it to use the POWER function. The format for this is =POWER and then in parentheses the argument two comma three. So, =POWER(2,3). Now, I’m going to type that out in excel and, again, it will calculate it for you.
Then if you wanted to change things, for example, instead of doing two to the third power, you want to do two to the 10th power. You can go int and remove three with the ten, which gives you 1,024.
For more information on how to get the most out of excel, check out my Book Excel Basics: in 30 Minutes. As well as the Excel Intermediate cheat sheets, which covers exponents and that’s available from in 30 Minutes. If this helped you out, please take a moment to browse my website and check out my YouTube channel @In30Minutes for other helpful tips and tricks.