On Jul 10, 12:47 am, "Jim Langston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "Paul Rubin" <http://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message > > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > "Jim Langston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >> In Python 2.5 on intel, the statement > >> 2**2**2**2**2 > >> evaluates to > >> >>> 2**2**2**2**2 > > > I get the same number from hugs--why do you think it might be wrong? > > 2**2 = 4 > 4**2 = 16 > 16**2 = 256 > 256**2 = 65536 > 65536**2 = 4294967296 > > In fact, if I put (2**2)**2**2**2 > it comes up with the correct answer, 4294967296
Actually, the "correct" answer (even by your own demonstration) is 65536. Assuming left-associativity, i.e., (((2**2)**2)**2)**2, python returns 65536. The answer of 4294967296 is actually ((((2**2)**2)**2)**2)**2, which is one extra raise-to-the-power-of-two instruction. The statement (2**2)**2**2**2 is the same as 4**16, following right- associativity rules, which just happens to be the same as ((((2**2)**2)**2)**2)**2. David -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
