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Are exponentiation operations much faster than multiplication since an exponentiation b^n is just n additions? Given that is true, I wonder if there is a fast a
by wppick 7y ago
Are exponentiation operations much faster than multiplication since an exponentiation b^n is just n additions? Given that is true, I wonder if there is a fast approximation method of solving a multiplication by solving an exponentiation that would have a close result?
- clircle 7y agob^n is b * ... * b, not b + ... + b.
- TheRealPomax 7y agoExcept it's not, because exponentiation is not something reserved for integers. Just because you can write out b^4 as b * b * b * b doesn't mean that "that must be the rule". How would that rule even begin to explain how to calculate b^2/3 or b^π? It's a cute little rule to use in middle school, when you get your very first glimpse at exponentiation, but it's also incredibly wrong if you try to actually use it with the rational, real, or complex numbers =) (https://www.reddit.com/r/3Blue1Brown/comments/a6mqsf/how_is_exponentiation_different_from_repeated/ https://www.reddit.com/r/3Blue1Brown/comments/a6mqsf/how_is_... has some more information in case you want to know what _would_ be a way to understand exponentiation for all numbers, not just integers)