# Ruby arithmetic question

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-arithmetic-question/107016>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [June 16, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-arithmetic-question/107016 "2007-06-16T17:02:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ee59a6/32.png) [@koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/koko)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-arithmetic-question/107016/1 "2007-06-16T17:02:49Z")

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Dear all,

I am very new to ruby language. I have some question in Ruby arthmetic  
operation.

Why did i get 2 \*\* 2 = 4 ??

a = 2 \*\* 2

puts a

–\> 4  
Why ?

It is like 2 ^ 2 = 4 ???

regards,  
salai.

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**Author:** ![koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ee59a6/32.png) [@koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/koko)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 5:15pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-arithmetic-question/107016/2 "2007-06-16T17:15:53Z")

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quoth the Salai K.:

> Dear all,
> 
> I am very new to ruby language. I have some question in Ruby arthmetic  
> operation.
> 
> Why did i get 2 \*\* 2 = 4 ??

Because ‘\*\*’ is the exponentiation operator.

> a = 2 \*\* 2
> 
> puts a
> 
> –\> 4  
> Why ?
> 
> It is like 2 ^ 2 = 4 ???

Exactly…

> regards,  
> salai.

-d

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/ee59a6/32.png) [@koko](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/koko)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-arithmetic-question/107016/3 "2007-06-16T17:16:53Z")

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Salai,

welcome to Ruby!  
You’re right - 2\*\*2 is 2 to the power of 2.

Best regards,

Axel

-------- Original-Nachricht --------  
Datum: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:02:16 +0900  
Von: “Salai K.” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)  
An: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid  
Betreff: Ruby arithmetic question.