Python Exponent Question

[Robert Kern]

databyss wrote:
> I have a simple program and the output isn't what I expect.  Could
> somebody please explain why?
> 
> Here's the code:
> 
> #simple program
> print "v = 2"
> v = 2
> print "v**v = 2**2 =", v**v
> print "v**v**v = 2**2**2 =", v**v**v
> print "v**v**v**v = 2**2**2**2 =", v**v**v**v
> #end program
> 
> Here's the output:
> 
> v = 2
> v**v = 2**2 = 4
> v**v**v = 2**2**2 = 16
> v**v**v**v = 2**2**2**2 = 65536
> 
> I would expect 2**2**2**2 to be 256

Exponentiation is right-associative. I.e. 2**2**2**2 == 2**(2**(2**2))

The reason is that left-associativity is better written with multiplication.

  (x**y)**z == x**(y*z)

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma
 that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had
 an underlying truth."
  -- Umberto Eco