Question

Write a method integerPower ( base, exponent ) that returns the value of ? base exponent For example, integerPower (3,4) calculates \(3^{4}(\text { or } 3 * 3 \text { in } 3 * 3) .\) Assume that exponent is a positive, nonzero integer and that base is an integer. Method integerPower should use a for or while statement to control the calculation. Do not use any math library methods. Incorporate this method into an application that reads integer values for base and exponent and performs the calculation with the integerPower method.

Short answer

Multiply the base by itself exponent times, using a loop.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

We need to calculate the power of a base raised to an exponent without using math library functions. This involves multiplying the base by itself the number of times specified by the exponent.

Initialize Result Variable

Create a method named `integerPower` that takes two parameters: `base` and `exponent`. Initialize a variable, `result`, to 1. This will store the accumulated product as we multiply the base the required number of times.

Loop to Calculate Power

Use a `for` loop or `while` loop to multiply `result` by `base`, `exponent` times. For example, with a loop `for(int i = 0; i < exponent; i++)`, each iteration will perform `result = result * base`.

Return the Result

After exiting the loop, the `result` should contain the value of `base` raised to the power of `exponent`. Return `result` from the method.

Implement an Application for User Input

In your main application, prompt the user to input values for `base` and `exponent`. Read these integer values and call the `integerPower` method with these inputs.

Display the Output

Print the result returned by `integerPower` to display the calculated power to the user, confirming the desired functionality of the method.

Key concepts

Control Structures

Control structures are essential in programming as they dictate the flow of execution based on specific conditions. When writing methods like `integerPower`, you often choose between a `for` loop or a `while` loop to control repetitive operations.

In this context, a `for` loop is useful when you know in advance how many times you need to execute a block of code. For the `integerPower` method, the loop runs 'exponent' number of times, multiplying the base by itself repeatedly.

• The `for` loop syntax starts with the loop initialization (setting a counter variable), continues with a condition (the loop runs as long as this is true), and includes an increment (to update the counter variable). Example: ```java for(int i = 0; i < exponent; i++) { result = result * base; } ```
• `while` loops are more flexible but often used where the number of iterations is not known upfront. Example: ```java int i = 0; while(i < exponent) { result *= base; i++; } ```

Through these loops, our method efficiently calculates the power without invoking additional functions or libraries, ensuring that the code remains performant and clear.

Method Implementation

Method implementation is the process of defining the internal logic of the method to perform a particular task. For this exercise, you need to implement a method called `integerPower`.

This method should:

• Accept two integer arguments: a `base` and an `exponent`.
• Initialize an integer variable `result` to 1, as this will hold the accumulating product.
• Utilize a loop (either `for` or `while`) to multiply `result` by `base`, iterating `exponent` times.
• Finally, return the `result` after the loop completes. Example: ```java public static int integerPower(int base, int exponent) { int result = 1; for(int i = 0; i < exponent; i++) { result *= base; } return result; } ```

A well-structured method performs one distinct function, is easy to read, and embraces clear variable naming conventions, enhancing maintainability and understanding for future developers.

User Input Handling

Handling user input effectively is a crucial aspect of interactive programs. For the application that uses the `integerPower` method, you will need to prompt the user for input to get the base and exponent values.

To handle this in Java, the `Scanner` class from the `java.util` package is widely employed:

• First, import the Scanner class: `import java.util.Scanner;`
• In the `main` method, create an instance of Scanner: ```java Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in); ```
• Prompt the user and read the input values: ```java System.out.println("Enter base:"); int base = input.nextInt(); System.out.println("Enter exponent:"); int exponent = input.nextInt(); ```
• Handle user inputs carefully to avoid incorrect or invalid data. In more advanced scenarios, use input validation techniques but for simplicity, assume correct inputs in this task.

This enables the program to dynamically accept different values and compute results accordingly, providing users with flexibility and interactivity.