ARTICLE
ipow - Integer Power Function
Syntax
... ipow( base = arg exp = n ) ...
Effect
This function raises the argument arg passed to base to
the exponent n passed to exp . The arguments arg and
n are numerical
expression positions . Any numeric
data object can be specified for arg . n expects the
type i and exponents of other types are
converted to i . If the argument
arg has the value 0, then the value of the exponent n
must be greater than or equal to 0.
The function ipow is overloaded with the effect that the return
value can have different numerical types.
With the exception of an
arithmetic expression , the data type of the argument arg
determines the data type of the return value.
Within an arithmetic expression, the argument arg contributes to
the calculation type of the entire
expression and the function is calculated using the calculation type.
If the argument arg is a
numeric expression , ipow functions like an arithmetic operator
and the function is handled in its operand position like an
arithmetic expression .
This function can be specified in
general and numeric
expression positions . The calculation type is determined from the
argument arg in the same way as with the other
numerical functions . The argument n
does not have any effect on the data type of the return value.
Notes
The power function ipow can replace
arg ** n calculations, if the
calculation type f is to be avoided. This makes sense if the
type f is not precise enough.
In many cases, the power function ipow displays better
performance than using the arithmetic operator
** .
Example
See Power Function ipow .
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