pow, powf, powl - power function
#include <math.h>
double pow(double x, double y);
float powf(float x, float y);
long double powl(long double x, long double y);
[CX] The functionality described on this reference page is aligned with the ISO C standard. Any conflict between the requirements described here and the ISO C standard is unintentional. This volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 defers to the ISO C standard.These functions shall compute the value of x raised to the power y, xy. If x is negative, the application shall ensure that y is an integer value.
An application wishing to check for error situations should set errno to zero and call feclearexcept(FE_ALL_EXCEPT) before calling these functions. On return, if errno is non-zero or fetestexcept(FE_INVALID | FE_DIVBYZERO | FE_OVERFLOW | FE_UNDERFLOW) is non-zero, an error has occurred.
Upon successful completion, these functions shall return the value of x raised to the power y.
For finite values of x < 0, and finite non-integer values of y, a domain error shall occur and [MX] either a NaN (if representable), or an implementation-defined value shall be returned.
If the correct value would cause overflow, a range error shall occur and pow(), powf(), and powl() shall return ±HUGE_VAL, ±HUGE_VALF, and ±HUGE_VALL, respectively, with the same sign as the correct value of the function.
If the correct value would cause underflow, and is not representable, a range error may occur, and [MX] either 0.0 (if supported), or an implementation-defined value shall be returned.
[MX] If x or y is a NaN, a NaN shall be returned (unless specified elsewhere in this description).
For any value of y (including NaN), if x is +1, 1.0 shall be returned.
For any value of x (including NaN), if y is ±0, 1.0 shall be returned.
For any odd integer value of y > 0, if x is ±0, ±0 shall be returned.
For y > 0 and not an odd integer, if x is ±0, +0 shall be returned.
If x is -1, and y is ±Inf, 1.0 shall be returned.
For |x| < 1, if y is -Inf, +Inf shall be returned.
For |x| > 1, if y is -Inf, +0 shall be returned.
For |x| < 1, if y is +Inf, +0 shall be returned.
For |x| > 1, if y is +Inf, +Inf shall be returned.
For y an odd integer < 0, if x is -Inf, -0 shall be returned.
For y < 0 and not an odd integer, if x is -Inf, +0 shall be returned.
For y an odd integer > 0, if x is -Inf, -Inf shall be returned.
For y > 0 and not an odd integer, if x is -Inf, +Inf shall be returned.
For y < 0, if x is +Inf, +0 shall be returned.
For y > 0, if x is +Inf, +Inf shall be returned.
For y an odd integer < 0, if x is ±0, a pole error shall occur and ±HUGE_VAL, ±HUGE_VALF, and ±HUGE_VALL shall be returned for pow(), powf(), and powl(), respectively.
For y < 0 and not an odd integer, if x is ±0, a pole error shall occur and HUGE_VAL, HUGE_VALF, and HUGE_VALL shall be returned for pow(), powf(), and powl(), respectively.
If the correct value would cause underflow, and is representable, a range error may occur and the correct value shall be returned.
These functions shall fail if:
- Domain Error
- The value of x is negative and y is a finite non-integer.
If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERRNO) is non-zero, then errno shall be set to [EDOM]. If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT) is non-zero, then the invalid floating-point exception shall be raised.
- Pole Error
- [MX] The value of x is zero and y is negative.
If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERRNO) is non-zero, then errno shall be set to [ERANGE]. If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT) is non-zero, then the divide-by-zero floating-point exception shall be raised.
- Range Error
- The result overflows.
If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERRNO) is non-zero, then errno shall be set to [ERANGE]. If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT) is non-zero, then the overflow floating-point exception shall be raised.
These functions may fail if:
- Range Error
- The result underflows.
If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERRNO) is non-zero, then errno shall be set to [ERANGE]. If the integer expression (math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT) is non-zero, then the underflow floating-point exception shall be raised.
None.
On error, the expressions (math_errhandling & MATH_ERRNO) and (math_errhandling & MATH_ERREXCEPT) are independent of each other, but at least one of them must be non-zero.
None.
None.
exp(), feclearexcept(), fetestexcept(), isnan(), the Base Definitions volume of IEEE Std 1003.1-2001, Section 4.18, Treatment of Error Conditions for Mathematical Functions, <math.h>
First released in Issue 1. Derived from Issue 1 of the SVID.
The DESCRIPTION is updated to indicate how an application should check for an error. This text was previously published in the APPLICATION USAGE section.
The DESCRIPTION is updated to avoid use of the term "must" for application requirements.
The powf() and powl() functions are added for alignment with the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard.
The DESCRIPTION, RETURN VALUE, ERRORS, and APPLICATION USAGE sections are revised to align with the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard.
IEC 60559:1989 standard floating-point extensions over the ISO/IEC 9899:1999 standard are marked.
IEEE Std 1003.1-2001/Cor 1-2002, item XSH/TC1/D6/42 is applied, correcting the third paragraph in the RETURN VALUE section.