Q2.2.10Exponentiation gotcha
Explain why the following expression does not evaluate to 100.
>>> 10^2
8
Hint: Refer to the Python documentation for \emph{bitwise} operators.
Show solution
The ^ operator does not raise a number to another power (that is the ** operator). It is the bitwise xor operator, and in binary 10^2 is 1010 xor 0010 = 1000 which is 8 in decimal.