negative pow in python

Question

I have this problem

>>> import math
>>> math.pow(-1.07,1.3)  
Traceback (most recent call last):  
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>  
ValueError: math domain error

any suggestion ?

Answer 1

(-1.07)^1.3 will not be a real number, thus the Math domain error.

If you need a complex number, a^b must be rewritten into e^{b ln a}, e.g.

>>> import cmath
>>> cmath.exp(1.3 * cmath.log(-1.07))
(-0.6418264288034731-0.8833982926856789j)

If you just want to return NaN, catch that exception.

>>> import math
>>> def pow_with_nan(x, y):
...   try:
...     return math.pow(x, y)
...   except ValueError:
...     return float('nan')
...
>>> pow_with_nan(1.3, -1.07)   # 1.3 ** -1.07
0.755232399659047
>>> pow_with_nan(-1.07, 1.3)   # (-1.07) ** 1.3
nan

BTW, in Python usually the built-in a ** b is used for raising power, not math.pow(a, b).

>>> 1.3 ** -1.07
0.755232399659047
>>> (-1.07) ** 1.3
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ValueError: negative number cannot be raised to a fractional power
>>> (-1.07+0j) ** 1.3
(-0.6418264288034731-0.8833982926856789j)

Answer 2

Don't use pow, and make the exponent complex (add 0j to it). Here is an example:

In [15]: (-1.07)**(1.3+0j)
Out[15]: (-0.64182642880347307-0.88339829268567893j)

No need for math functions :)