ToFloatPower (Float function)

Raise number to a floating point power (Float class)

This intrinsic function returns a number that is the method object value raised to the float power specified by the method argument.

Available as of version 7.3 of the Sirius Mods, the ToFloatPower function is an object-oriented version of the $RXPR function.

Syntax

%number = float:ToFloatPower( exponent)

Syntax terms

%value	A numeric variable to contain the method result.
number	A Float value.
exponent	A Float value.

Usage notes

• If number is equal to 0, and exponent is less than or equal to 0, the request is cancelled.
• If number is less than 0, and exponent is not 0, the request is cancelled. This is so because, unlike the ToIntegerPower function, the computation algorithm involves the log of number.
• ToFloatPower uses good-fit techniques that sometimes produce slightly different results from ToIntegerPower with the same inputs.

Examples

For example:

  b
  printText {~} = {3:toFloatPower(6)}
  printText {~} = {3:toIntegerPower(6)}
  printText {~} = {10:toFloatPower(7)}
  printText {~} = {10:toIntegerPower(7)}
  end

displays

  3:toFloatPower(6) = 728.999999999999
  3:toIntegerPower(6) = 729
  10:toFloatPower(7) = 9999999.99999997
  10:toIntegerPower(7) = 10000000

Consequently, you should generally use ToIntegerPower unless you really are working with non-integer powers.

See also

List of intrinsic Float methods