why do whole number raised to an exponent get larger, while fractions raised to an exponent get smaller?

Here is a neat little graph.

you can play with the power too :)

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/c8tagbyqxy

Not all fractions ger smaller.....only those between 0 and 1

For example  (1/4)^2   = 1/16   ....but....  (3/2)^2  =  9/4 ...  And  3/2 = 1.5   but 9/4  = 2.25....so....this gets larger

[This also assumes that the exponents are positive integers ]