Python pow() Function

The pow() function is one of Python's built-in functions, used for fast exponentiation and modular exponentiation.

Function Syntax

This function exists in two forms:

1. Calculate x raised to the power of y, same result as x**y:

pow(x, y)

2. Calculate (x**y) % z (modular exponentiation):

pow(x, y, z)

The pow() function internally uses fast exponentiation algorithms, offering significantly better performance than x**y and (x**y) % z.

pow() Function Examples

# Integer exponentiation
print(pow(2, 3))     # 8 (2³)
print(pow(5, 2))     # 25 (5²)
print(pow(10, 0))    # 1 (any number to power 0)

# Negative exponent
print(pow(2, -2))    # 0.25 (2⁻² = 1/4)
print(pow(10, -1))   # 0.1

# Decimal exponent
print(pow(4, 0.5))   # 2.0 (square root)
print(pow(8, 1/3))   # 2.0 (cube root)
print(pow(9, 1.5))   # 27.0 (9^(3/2))

# Modular exponentiation: calculate (x**y) % z
print(pow(2, 3, 5))      # 3
print(pow(5, 2, 7))      # 4
print(pow(10, 3, 13))    # 12