Hi Mike,

On Wednesday December 06 1995, Mike Bilow wrote from 1:323/107 to Mike Fisher:

 MF>> ie. in Pascal, to calculate the Qth root of P ...

 MF>> root:=exp(ln(P)/Q);

 MB> Am I really missing something here, or does Pascal have no support
 MB> for direct exponentiation?  The Qth root of P is equal to P raised to
 MB> the 1/Q power.  Using C, it is a heck of a lot more efficient to
 MB> compute a Qth root as such:

 MB>    double P, Q, root;

 MB>    root = pow(P, 1.0 / Q);

 MB> It is perfectly legal and valid to use logarithmic calculations, but
 MB> why?

Not knowing the particular compiler and associated link library used by the
person to whom I was writing I quoted "standard" Pascal which all
respectable compilers should be capable of handling.  The compiler I use
_does_ have a "power" function, and that which he uses _may_ have
it as well.  However, not being sure about that, I gave him something which
I know will work even if not the fastest code.  :-)

Best regards,
Mike.

--- GoldED 2.50+