2**HUGENUMBER Why not optimise it?

[Delaney, Timothy]

> From: Mike C. Fletcher [mailto:mcfletch at rogers.com]
> 
> I've noticed the use of 2**HUGENUMBER as a speed test a 
> couple of times 
> now.  I'm curious why the language(s) doesn't (don't) optimise 2**X 
> operations for really huge exponents.  Python obviously 
> optimises 1**x 
> (since 1**1000000 returns instantly), so why not 2**x where x 
> > (30 or 62)?

Exponentiation can be overloaded. Look at __pow__ ...

Tim Delaney