Python pow()

The pow() method computes the power of a number by raising the first argument to the second argument

Example

# compute 3^4 print(pow(3, 4));
# Output: 81

pow() Syntax

The syntax of pow() is:

pow(number, power, modulus [optional])

pow() Parameters

The pow() method takes three parameters:

  • number- the base value that is raised to a certain power
  • power - the exponent value that raises number
  • modulus - (optional) divides the result of number paused to a power and finds the remainder: number^power% modulus

pow() Return Value

The pow() method returns:

  • number^power - number, raised to a certain power
  • number^power % modulus - with the modulus argument
  • 1 - if the value of power is 0
  • 0 - if the value of number is 0

Example 1: Python pow()

# returns 2^2
print(pow(2, 2))  

# returns -2^2
print(pow(-2, 2))    

# returns 1/2^2 
print(pow(2, -2))   
 
# returns -1/-2^2 
print(pow(-2, -2))

Output

4
4
0.25
0.25

The pow() method helps us find the value of a number raised to a certain power.

In the above example,

  • pow(2,2) is 22 - results in 4
  • pow(-2,2) is -22 - results in -4
  • pow(2,-2) is 1/22 - results in 0.25
  • pow(-2,-2) is -1/-22 - results in 0.25

Example 2: pow() with Modulus

x = 7
y = 2
z = 5

# compute x^y % z print(pow(x, y, z))

Output

4

In the above example, we have raised the number 7 to the power 2 which results in 49.

Since we have used the pow() method with three arguments x, y, and z, the third argument 5 divides the result of 72 and finds the remainder.

That's why we get the output 4.


Also Read:

Did you find this article helpful?

Your builder path starts here. Builders don't just know how to code, they create solutions that matter.

Escape tutorial hell and ship real projects.

Try Programiz PRO
  • Real-World Projects
  • On-Demand Learning
  • AI Mentor
  • Builder Community