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Math pow in Python

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Python Math pow() function calculates the value of the number raised to the power of another number. This function returns the float value of x raised to power y.

math.pow(x, y)

Note: This method converts both arguments into a float and If x is negative and y is not an integer, it returns a ValueError.

Math pow in Python example

A simple example code gets the value of the base number raised to the exponent number.

import math

# positive: baseNumber positive: exponent
print("pow(2,3): ", math.pow(2, 3))

# positive: baseNumber negative: exponent
print("pow(0.25,-2): ", math.pow(0.25, -2))

# negative: baseNumber positive: exponent
print("pow(-10,2): ", math.pow(-10, 2))

# negative: baseNumber negative: exponent
print("(-0.5,-1) :", math.pow(-0.5, -1))

Output:

Math pow in Python

Difference between the built-in pow() and math.pow() for floats, in Python?

Answer: From the signatures, we can tell that they are different:

pow(x, y[, z])
math.pow(x, y)

The return value of pow() can be an integer, floating point, or even a complex number. The return value of math. pow() is always a floating point number.

Differences between inbuilt pow() function and math.pow() function.

pow()math.pow()
pow() is an inbuilt function.math.pow() is imported from the math module.
It accepts an optional third argument (modulus).It doesn’t accept a third argument.
It accepts an integer, floating point, and complex numbers as base or exponent.It accepts an integer and floating point numbers.
It doesn’t change its arguments.It changes its arguments to floating point numbers.
The return value of pow() can be an integer, floating point, or even a complex number.The return value of math.pow() is always a floating point number.

Do comment if you have any doubts or suggestions on this Python math module topic.

Note: IDE: PyCharm 2021.3.3 (Community Edition)

Windows 10

Python 3.10.1

All Python Examples are in Python 3, so Maybe its different from python 2 or upgraded versions.

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