POWER Function in Excel
The POWER function raises a number to a specified power. Calculate exponentials, compound interest, and growth rates with this essential math function.
Excel
Google SheetsExcelGoogle Sheets=POWER(number, power)Practical Examples
Basic Exponential Calculation
Calculate 5 raised to the power of 3
Compound Interest Calculation
Calculate investment value with annual compound interest
Square and Cube Calculations
Use POWER for common square and cube operations
Calculating Square Roots with Fractional Powers
Use fractional exponents to find roots
Scientific Notation and Large Numbers
Calculate powers of 10 for scientific notation
Common Errors and Solutions
POWER function returns #VALUE! error
One or both arguments contain text or non-numeric values
1. Check that both arguments are numbers 2. Remove any spaces or text characters 3. Use VALUE() to convert text numbers: =POWER(VALUE(A1), B1) 4. Verify cell references point to numeric cells
Always validate data types before using POWER. Use ISNUMBER() to check if cells contain numeric values.
Example:
Result is too large or involves invalid calculation
The calculation results in a number too large for Excel to handle, or you're trying to calculate an even root of a negative number
1. Check if the result exceeds Excel's limits (1.7E+308) 2. For negative bases with fractional exponents, use ABS() 3. Reduce the exponent value if possible 4. Consider using logarithms for very large calculations
Be aware of Excel's numeric limits. For negative numbers with fractional powers, understand that even roots of negative numbers result in errors.
Example:
Division by zero in related calculations
While POWER itself doesn't cause #DIV/0!, this error often appears when POWER is used with other functions that divide by zero
1. Check formulas that use POWER results in denominators 2. Add IF statements to handle zero cases 3. Use IFERROR to provide alternative calculations
When using POWER in complex formulas, always check for potential zero denominators
Example:
Best Practices and Advanced Tips
For simple power calculations, the caret operator (^) is more concise. Use =A1^2 instead of =POWER(A1,2). However, POWER is clearer when reading complex formulas or when the exponent is a calculated value.
Be cautious when using fractional exponents with negative numbers. Excel will return #NUM! error for even roots of negative numbers. For odd roots, use the SIGN and ABS functions.
When applying POWER to thousands of cells, consider using array formulas or Power Query for better performance. Array formulas can process multiple calculations simultaneously.
POWER works excellently with other math functions. Combine with LOG for inverse operations, or with ROUND for cleaner results in financial calculations.
POWER function is available in all Excel versions and Google Sheets. The syntax is identical across platforms, making it highly portable for cross-platform spreadsheets.
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Example Excel formula:
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