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:
“None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free.”
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973)
“If Paris lived now, and preferred beauty to power and riches, it would not be called his Judgment, but his Want of Judgment.”
—Horace Walpole (1717–1797)