[noob] Questions about mathematical signs...

[Steve Holden]

administrata wrote:

> Hi! I'm programming maths programs.
> And I got some questions about mathematical signs.
> 
> 1. Inputing suqare like a * a, It's too long when I do time-consuming
>    things. Can it be simplified?
> 
You mean you have to write a*a*a*a when you want the fourth power? You 
need the exponentiation operator ** :

  >>> for i in range(6):
  ...   print 2 ** i
  ...
1
2
4
8
16
32

> 2. Inputing fractions like (a / b) + (c / d), It's tiring work too.
>    Can it be simplified?
> 
Surely you jest. Can you suggest a simplification, or have you come 
across one in some other language?

> 3. How can i input root?
> 
Fractional exponents give you roots (sorry about the tiring division):

  >>> for i in range(1,7):
  ...   print i, 64 ** (1.0/i)
  ...
1 64.0
2 8.0
3 4.0
4 2.82842712475
5 2.29739670999
6 2.0

> thx 4 reading :)

regards
  Steve
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