Python exponent operator

Python exponent operator is the arithmetic operator. Raising a number to the second power is not easy to compare with normal multiplication.

m ** n

The exponentiation operator uses the (**) double asterisk/exponentiation operator between the base and exponent values.

Python exponent operator example

A simple example code exponent operator raises its second variable to the power of its first variable.

2**5 translates to 2*2*2*2*2 = 32

m = 2
n = 5
p = m ** n
print("The exponent:", p)

Output:

You can use loops to calculate exponential but its time complexity becomes O(n) and space complexity is O(1).

The Exponent operator ** works in the same way as the pow(a, b) function.

base = 2
exponent = 8

# pow() function
res = pow(base, exponent)

print("Exponential value is:", res)

Output: Exponential value is: 256

As the pow() function first converts its argument into float and then calculates the power, we see some return type differences.

Comment if you have any doubts or suggestions on this Python operator 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.