How to Use the Exponential Function in Excel

Direct Calculations
1. Launch Microsoft Excel and open a blank workbook if one does not automatically open.
2. Click a cell to select it. Press the '=' to begin to create a formula for the cell.
3. Type 'Power(2,3)' and press 'Enter' or 'Tab' to save the contents of the cell and move to the next cell down or to the right, respectively. Notice that the cell now displays the answer to the first number in parentheses raised to the second number in parenthesis, or 'Two raised to the third power,' which is equal to '8' in this case.
Referenced Cells
4. Launch Microsoft Excel. Open a blank workbook if one does not automatically open.
5. Click a blank cell and type the number '5' into the cell. Press 'Enter' to save the cell contents and move to the next cell down.
6. Type the number '2' into the cell. Press 'Enter' to save the contents and move to the next cell down.
7. Press the 'Equal' key ('=') to begin to create a formula for the cell.
8. Type the word 'Power' followed by the 'Open Parenthesis' symbol. Hold down the 'Shift' key and press the '(' symbol, located on the same key as the number 9, and then click once on the cell with the number '5' in it. Press the ',' on the keyboard, and then click once on the cell with the number '2' in it. Press the close parenthesis key. Hold down 'Shift' key and press the ')' symbol, located on the same key as the number '0.' Press 'Enter.' Notice that the result is the number in the first cell, a '5,' raised to the power in the second cell, a '2,' or '25' in this case. Note that if the first cell is 'A1' and the second cell is 'A2,' then the formula for the third cell will look like '=POWER(A1,A2)' to work correctly.