In mathematics, a power of two means a number of the form 2n where n is an integer, i.e. the result of exponentiation with as base the number two and as exponent the integer n.
In a context where only integers are considered, n is restricted to non-negative values, so we have 1, 2, and 2 multiplied by itself a certain number of times.
Because two is the base of the binary numeral system, powers of two are common in computer science. Written in binary, a power of two always has the form 100…0 or 0.00…01, just like a power of ten in the decimal system.
Read more about Power Of Two: Expressions and Notations, Computer Science, Mersenne Primes, Euclid's Elements, Book IX, The First 96 Powers of Two, Powers of 1024, Powers of Two Whose Exponents Are Powers of Two, Some Selected Powers of Two, Fast Algorithm To Check If A Positive Number Is A Power of Two, Algorithm To Convert Any Number Into Nearest Power of Two Number, Algorithm To Round Up To Power of Two, Other Properties
Famous quotes containing the words power of and/or power:
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Distinction lost, or gone down with the light;
The eye—a watch to inward senses placed,
Not seeing, yet still having power of sight—
Gives vain alarums to the inward sense”
—Fulke Greville (1554–1628)
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