[java] Does Java have an exponential operator?

Is there an exponential operator in Java?

For example, if a user is prompted to enter two numbers and they enter 3 and 2, the correct answer would be 9.

import java.util.Scanner;
public class Exponentiation {

    public static double powerOf (double p) {
        double pCubed;

        pCubed = p*p;
        return (pCubed);
    }

    public static void main (String [] args) {
        Scanner in = new Scanner (System.in);

        double num = 2.0;
        double cube;    

        System.out.print ("Please put two numbers: ");
        num = in.nextInt();

        cube = powerOf(num);

        System.out.println (cube);
    }
}

There is no operator, but there is a method.

Math.pow(2, 3) // 8.0

Math.pow(3, 2) // 9.0

FYI, a common mistake is to assume 2 ^ 3 is 2 to the 3rd power. It is not. The caret is a valid operator in Java (and similar languages), but it is binary xor.

you can use the pow method from the Math class. The following code will output 2 raised to 3 (8)

System.out.println(Math.pow(2, 3));

In case if anyone wants to create there own exponential function using recursion, below is for your reference.

public static double power(double value, double p) {
        if (p <= 0)
            return 1;

        return value * power(value, p - 1);
    }

The easiest way is to use Math library.

Use Math.pow(a, b) and the result will be a^b

If you want to do it yourself, you have to use for-loop

// Works only for b >= 1
public static double myPow(double a, int b){
    double res =1;
    for (int i = 0; i < b; i++) {
        res *= a;
    }
    return res;
}

Using:

double base = 2;
int exp = 3;
double whatIWantToKnow = myPow(2, 3);

There is the Math.pow(double a, double b) method. Note that it returns a double, you will have to cast it to an int like (int)Math.pow(double a, double b).