Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!uwmcsd1!ig!agate!ucbvax!hplabs!hpcea!hpfcdc!hpfelg!jk
From: jk@hpfelg.HP.COM (John Kessenich)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Re: Power proposal for ANSI C -- we already have what we need
Message-ID: <690004@hpfelg.HP.COM>
Date: 1 Feb 88 16:17:34 GMT
References: <3812@hoptoad.uucp>
Organization: HP Elec. Design Div. -FtCollins
Lines: 26




    I have thought about using macros for squaring expressions, and problem
    is that they *do* require a temp.  This makes it impossible to do the
    following:

        #define SQR(exp) ????

        x = y + z * SQR(a+b);

    Either a temp must be available so one can write

        #define SQR(exp) (t=(exp), t*t)

    Or one must write

	#define SQR(x,exp) {int t; t=(exp); x = t*t;}

    which cannot be used in expressions.

    Conclusion? there is not a good substitute for a real power operator.
    (This does not mean there should be a power operator. :-)

---------------
John Kessenich