Why do whole numbers raised to an exponent get bigger while fractions raised to an exponent get smaller

when you multiply a whole number by itself it will obviously get bigger.

4 to the 2nd power equals 16 because 4x4 = 16

if you were to multiply a smaller number though, it wouldn't get as big.

Each number you put to the same exponent will not get bigger at the same rate since each number isnt being multiplied by the same thing.

ex. 4 and 6 are raised to the second power both dont get multiplied by the same number 4 is multiplied by 4, and 6 by 6, therefore the bigger the number the bigger it grows.

Fractions get smaller for this reason when you have the fraction 2/3 raised to the second, both numbers must be raised. 2 to the second equals 4 while 3 to the second is 9.

1/2 to the second would then equal 1/4 since 1 to the second equals 1 and 2 to the second equals 4.