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I am a java programmer. But I have a doubt regarding a mathematics. There was a method called Math.exp(double a) description:Returns Euler's number e raised to the power of a double value. and another method Math.pow(double a, double b) description:Returns the value of the first argument raised to the power of the second argument.. But I am confused what is the difference between the two. I am 15 years and we were told in school that both are the same. But here it seems to be different. Can anyone clear my doubt?

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3 Answers 3

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Euler's number, $e \approx 2.71828$, is very important in many fields of mathematics. An important function that uses this constant is $\exp x = e^x$.

However, $\operatorname{pow}(a, b) = a^b$, a more general case.

You will notice that, if $a=e$,

Math.pow(Math.E, x)

is the same as

Math.exp(x)

Once you are familiar with more properties of $e^x$, you will also note that

Math.exp(b * Math.log (a))

is the same as

Math.pow(a, b)
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  • $\begingroup$ thanks for solving by doubt .... I am having my exam today! $\endgroup$
    – Pranit Bauva
    Dec 3, 2012 at 3:44
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The first one computes $e^a$ while the second computes $a^b$. The first is a special case of the second where $a = e$.

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  • $\begingroup$ In other words, the exponential function $e^a$ has one argument, where the power function $a^b$ allows for two arguments. The exponential function can be viewed as a special case of the second one, and mathematically the exponential function has a nice property for calculus. $\endgroup$
    – hardmath
    Dec 2, 2012 at 17:00
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    $\begingroup$ Analogously $\rm\: double(y) := 2y\:$ is $\rm\:times(x,y) := xy\:$ restricted to $\rm\:x = 2.\ \ $ $\endgroup$
    – Bill Dubuque
    Dec 2, 2012 at 17:49
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Any operation of power needs two argument base and index. in case of method Math.exp(double a) it has already two exp. means "e" which has value approx.2.71.. and in case of method Math.pow(double a, double b) you have two user inputted argument a and b.

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