Question 673723
Basically, the answer is that you follow the 
normal rules that you know when dealing
with whole numbers.
You are right that it's hard to get a feel for
what something like {{{ 3^1.05 }}} means,
but all you can do is apply rules that you know, like
(1) {{{ a^b * a^c * a^d = a^(( b + c + d )) }}} and
(2) {{{ (a^b)^c = a^((b*c)) }}} and
(3) {{{ a^(-b) = 1/(a^b) }}}
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You can always convert decimals to fractions, too, if it helps
{{{ 7^6.5 = 7^( 2+2+2+.5 ) }}}, and using rule (1) backwards,
{{{ 7^6.5 = 7^2 * 7^2 * 7^2 * 7^(1/2) }}}
{{{ 7^6.5 = 49 * 49 * 49 * sqrt( 7 ) }}}
{{{ 7^6.5 = 49^3 * sqrt(7) }}}
You could do this on a calculator that only has +,-,x, and square root
like the one I'm using
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If you have {{{ 3^( -.001 ) }}} , follow rule (3)
{{{ 1 / 3^(.001) }}}
Note that {{{ .001 = 1/1000 }}} , so you have
{{{ 1 / root ( 1000,3 ) }}}
The 1000th root of 3 is probably a little more than 1, so
the fraction 1/1.0+ should be a little less than 1
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Hope some of this helps