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POWER()

Overview

POWER() calculates the result of raising a base number to a specified exponent. This function is useful for mathematical calculations, scientific computations, and any operations requiring exponential values. It's equivalent to the exponentiation operator (^) in many programming languages.

Function Format

POWER(base, exponent)

Return Value

POWER() returns a numeric value, or 0 for invalid inputs

Examples


POWER(3, 2) = 9                    (3 squared)
POWER(9, 0.5) = 3                  (square root of 9)
POWER(3, 0) = 1                    (any number to power 0)
POWER(3, -2) = 0.1111              (negative exponent)
POWER(2, 3) = 8                    (2 cubed)
POWER(10, 2) = 100                 (10 squared)
POWER(0, 0) = 0                    (invalid input)
POWER(NULL, 2) = 0                 (NULL handling)

Notes

  • Important behaviors:
    • Returns base raised to the power of exponent
    • Returns 0 for invalid inputs
    • Supports both positive and negative exponents
    • Supports decimal exponents
    • Returns 1 when exponent is 0 (except for 0^0)
  • Common use cases include:
    • Mathematical calculations
    • Scientific computations
    • Growth rate calculations
    • Area and volume calculations
    • Financial calculations
  • The function can be used with:
    • Integer values
    • Decimal values
    • Negative numbers
    • Numeric expressions
  • This function is often used in combination with other mathematical functions for complex calculations.
  • For square roots, you can use either POWER(x, 0.5) or the SQRT() function.

See Also