Question

Why do whole numbers with an exponent get bigger while fractions with an exponent get smaller.

Answer 1

Raising a whole number to a power means: 

             Take (a number of things) a number of times, and then possibly
             take that big number of things a number of times again.

Raising a fraction to an exponent means: 

             Take a piece of (a piece of one thing), and then possibly
              take just a piece of that smaller piece.