Question

Why do whole numbers rise to an exponent get greater while fractions raise to an exponent get smaller?

Answer 1

This is because exponents increase a number, for example
`2, and, 2^2` squaring a number is basically multiplying it by itself. So
`2 * 2 = 2^2=4`. Now obiviously 4 is greater than 2. But lets make the numbers like this:

`(1)/(2), and, (1)/(2)^2`

And again,
`(1)/(2)*(1)/(2) = ((1)/(2))^2 = (1)/(4)`

Now, which is bigger
`(1)/(2)or(1)/(4)`

A quarter is smaller than a half right?

So in this case we can see that fractions raised to an exponent get smaller while numbers raised to an exponent get bigger.