PLSQL | POWER Function

The POWER function is an inbuilt function in PLSQL which is used to return the calculated value when a raised to the bth power. If a is negative number, then b must be an integer. Syntax:

POWER(a, b)

Parameters Used: This function accepts two parameters a and b. If a is negative number, then b must be an integer. Return Value: This function return a raised to the bth power. Supported Versions of Oracle/PLSQL is given below:

1. Oracle 12c
2. Oracle 11g
3. Oracle 10g
4. Oracle 9i
5. Oracle 8i

Let's see some examples which illustrate the POWER function: Example-1:

DECLARE 
   Test_Number number1 := 3;
   Test_Number number2 := 2;
   
BEGIN 
   dbms_output.put_line(POWER(Test_Number number1, 
                              Test_Number number2)); 
   
END; 

Output:

9

In the above example, 3 is raised to the 2nd power and returns 9 as the output. Example-2:

DECLARE 
   Test_Number number1 := -5;
   Test_Number number2 := 3;
   
BEGIN 
   dbms_output.put_line(POWER(Test_Number number1, 
                              Test_Number number2)); 
   
END; 

Output:

-125

In the above example, -5 is raised to the 3th power and returns -125 as the output. Example-3:

DECLARE 
   Test_Number number1 := 6.2;
   Test_Number number2 := 3.5;
   
BEGIN 
   dbms_output.put_line(POWER(Test_Number number1, 
                              Test_Number number2)); 
   
END; 

Output:

593.431934277892

In the above example, 6.2 is raised to the 3.5th power and returns 593.431934277892 as the output. Advantage: This function is used to find the value when a raised to the bth power is calculated.