Java - Calculate powers, Math.pow()

You can use Math.pow() to compute powers. pow means power, and power means power.

Pass a and b as arguments to pow() and return a to the power of b. That is, a multiplied by b times is returned.

// Math.java
public static double pow(double a, double b)

We can calculate 3.2 to the third power as follows:

double result = Math.pow(3.2, 3);
System.out.println(result);

Running it returns about 32.76. This value is equivalent to 3.2 * 3.2 * 3.2.

32.76800000000001

If you want to convert to int, you have to cast it directly like this:

int result = (int) Math.pow(3.2, 3);

output format

If you use DecimalFormat, you can make it output only to a few decimal places.

DecimalFormat df = new DecimalFormat(".00");
double result = Math.pow(3.2, 3);
System.out.println(df.format(result));

Output:

32.77

Example

If the second argument is 0, 1 is returned.

double result = Math.pow(3.2, 0);
System.out.println(result);

Output:

1.0

If the second argument is 1, 3.2 is returned.

double result = Math.pow(3.2, 1);
System.out.println(result);

Output:

3.2

If the second argument is NaN(Not a Number), NaN is returned.

double result = Math.pow(3.2, Double.NaN);
System.out.println(result);

Output:

NaN