Exponentiation Power Function

EasyPython

Problem

AQR research calculations may repeatedly evaluate integer powers for signal transformations. Implement exponentiation without using Python's built-in power operators or libraries.

Given a numeric base x and an integer exponent y, return x raised to the power y. In this problem, ^ means exponentiation, not bitwise XOR.

Your solution should use exponentiation by squaring rather than multiplying by x once for every unit of the exponent. Negative exponents must return the reciprocal power.

Formal Specification

Input: x, a nonzero integer or floating-point number when y < 0, and y, an integer.
Output: The numeric value x^y. Returning an integer for integral positive powers and a floating-point value for negative powers is acceptable.
Do not use **, pow, or equivalent library functions.

Constraints

-100 <= x <= 100
x != 0 when y < 0
-10^9 <= y <= 10^9
0^0 is defined as 1
Do not use **, pow, or equivalent library functions

Function Signature

def power(x, y):

AQR research calculations may repeatedly evaluate integer powers for signal transformations. Implement exponentiation without using Python's built-in power operators or libraries.

Given a numeric base x and an integer exponent y, return x raised to the power y. In this problem, ^ means exponentiation, not bitwise XOR.

Your solution should use exponentiation by squaring rather than multiplying by x once for every unit of the exponent. Negative exponents must return the reciprocal power.

Formal Specification

Input: x, a nonzero integer or floating-point number when y < 0, and y, an integer.
Output: The numeric value x^y. Returning an integer for integral positive powers and a floating-point value for negative powers is acceptable.
Do not use **, pow, or equivalent library functions.