[Python-Dev] (-1)**(1/2)==1?

[Aahz]

Georg,

Please do not respond to off-topic posts on python-dev without
redirecting them to comp.lang.python (or other suitable place).  Thanks!


On Mon, Feb 20, 2006, Georg Brandl wrote:
>
> Jonathan Barbero wrote:
>> Hello!
>>   My name is Jonathan, i?m new with Python.
>> 
>>    I try this in the command line:
>>   
>>    >>> (-1)**(1/2)
>>     1
>> 
>>    This is wrong, i think it must throw an exception.
>>     What do you think?
> 
>>>> 1/2
> 0
>>>> (-1)**0
> 1
> 
> It's fine.
> 
> If you want to get a floating point result from dividing,
> make one of the two numbers a float:
> 
>>>> 1.0/2
> 0.5
>>>>

-- 
Aahz (aahz at pythoncraft.com)           <*>         http://www.pythoncraft.com/

"19. A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming,
is not worth knowing."  --Alan Perlis