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

Because whole numbers are greater than 1 and any number greater than 1 multiplied by it self several times result in a greater number, but proper fractions are numbers less than 1, and a number less than 1 multiplied by it self several times result if a smaller number.

Explanation:

Whole numbers are raised to an exponent , means that such number is multiplied by itself (as many times and the exponent is).

Whole numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4,

Number 1 is a special case. When 1 is multiplied by it self the result is 1.

When other whole number (2, 3, 4, 5, ...) is multiplied by it self the result is a greater number. For example, 2 × 2 = 4, 3 × 3 = 9, and so on.

On the other hand, proper fractions, which are those whose numerator is less than the denominator, are less than one, and any number less than 1 multiplied by it self results in a smaller number.

For example: 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/4 or 0.5 × 0.5 = 0.25. This is always true for any proper fraction (a number less than 1).

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step-by-step explanation:

5   1/4   miles per hour

step-by-step explanation:

15   3/4 / 3 = 5   1/4