How do I compute fractional exponents on the TI BA II Plus calculator?

Enclose the fraction ib parentheses then raise the whole bracket to the power (a/b)^45

As an example, to calculate 2 raised to the 3rd power, press 2 y^x 3 =

Break the problem up into smaller pieces.

There's a limit to how big a number the calculator can represent. Numbers as large as 10 times 10 to the 100 simply can't fit into the calculator. For really large numbers, calculate the mantissa and the exponent (power) separately.

For example, to calculate 2^360, first calculate 2^300: press 2 ^ 3 0 0 = and see 2.037036*10^90. Divide by 10^90 (and remember the 90): / 1 0 y^x 9 0 = and see 2.04. Multiply by 2^60: * 2 ^ 6 0 = and see 2.348543*10^18. Multiply that by the 10^90 we took out earlier by adding exponents and write down 2.348543*10^108. That number is too large to fit into the calculator but we got it by calculating the 2.348543 and the 108 separately.

Put the fraction inside parentheses so the division occurs before the power, and use the +/- key instead of the - key to enter a negative number. For example, to calculate 8 raised to the minus one-third, press 8 y^x ( 1 +/- 3 ) =. You should get 0.50.

The BA-II Plus is designed for financial applications. It does not do fractions, as do some calculators intended for school use.

Sorry if that wasn't the answer you wanted to see, but there it is.

Use the ^ key, located above and left of the 7 key. For example, to calculate 2 raised to the 120 power, press 2 ^ 1 2 0 =

This calculator is incapable of displaying simplified fractions (i.e. 1 ½), you will have to use the decimal value or contain your complex fraction in parenthesis. (i.e. (5/2).)

You cannot use a letter as an exponent, unless you stored a numerical value in memory B (EX: 3 [STO>] [ALPHA] B stores value 3 in B)
For any numerical value of exponent ( positive, negative, integer, fraction, what have you) you use the general power key, marked with a caret [^] under the [CLEAR] key.

Example: To enter 15 to power 5
Type in 15
Press [^] key
Type in the value of the exponent (5) and press [ENTER]
You get 759375 as result.

To raise a value to a power, use the y^x key located just above the 9 key. For example, to raise 2 to the third power, press 2 y^x 3 =

Unlike most calculators, there is no dedicated key for decimal exponents. You will have to use the above procedure to raise 10 to an exponent.

The BA-II Plus does not work with fractions.