Function res

maths/largest_of_very_large_numbers.py:6–27

Reduces large number to a more manageable number >>> res(5, 7) 4.892790030352132 >>> res(0, 5) 0 >>> res(3, 0) 1 >>> res(-1, 5) Traceback (most recent call last): ... ValueError: expected a positive input

(x, y)

def res(x, y):
    """
    Reduces large number to a more manageable number
    >>> res(5, 7)
    4.892790030352132
    >>> res(0, 5)
    0
    >>> res(3, 0)
    1
    >>> res(-1, 5)
    Traceback (most recent call last):
    ...
    ValueError: expected a positive input
    """
    if 0 not in (x, y):
        # We use the relation x^y = y*log10(x), where 10 is the base.
        return y * math.log10(x)
    elif x == 0:  # 0 raised to any number is 0
        return 0
    elif y == 0:
        return 1  # any number raised to 0 is 1
    raise AssertionError("This should never happen")


if __name__ == "__main__":  # Main function