Raise to Power in R
This Is a Beginner's Question. What's the Difference Between ^ and **? for Example: 2 ^ 10 [1] 1024 2 ** 10 [1] 1024 Is There a Function Such as Power(X, Y)? 3...
This is a beginner's question.
What's the difference between
^and**? For example:2 ^ 10 [1] 1024 2 ** 10 [1] 1024Is there a function such as
power(x,y)?
1 Answer
1: No difference. It is kept around to allow old S-code to continue to function. This is documented a "Note" in ?Math?Arithmetic
2: Yes: But you already know it:
`^`(x,y)
#[1] 1024
In R the mathematical operators are really functions that the parser takes care of rearranging arguments and function names for you to simulate ordinary mathematical infix notation. Also documented at ?Math.
Edit: Let me add that knowing how R handles infix operators (i.e. two argument functions) is very important in understanding the use of the foundational infix "[[" and "["-functions as (functional) second arguments to lapply and sapply:
> sapply( list( list(1,2,3), list(4,3,6) ), "[[", 1)
[1] 1 4
> firsts <- function(lis) sapply(lis, "[[", 1)
> firsts( list( list(1,2,3), list(4,3,6) ) )
[1] 1 4
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