Power ( ** )

The Power operator returns the result of a number (the base) raised to the power of a second number (the power). The base and the power can be any real or integer numbers, subject to the following restrictions:

• A zero base and a negative power are invalid.

  Example: "0 ** - 2" and "0 ** -2.5"

• A negative base and a fractional power are invalid.

  Example: "-2 ** 2.5" and "-2 ** -2.5"

• Invalid operands yield a zero result.

The result of the operation cannot be so large or so small that it cannot be represented as a real number. Example:

1 ** 1 = 1.0

3 ** 2 = 9.0

10 ** 5 = 100,000.0