SAS function for using 'power' / exponential

Question

I may be missing something obvious, but how do you calculate 'powers' in SAS?

Eg X squared, or Y cubed?

what I need is to have variable1 ^ variable2, but cannot find the syntax... (I am using SAS 9.1.3)

SAS syntax doesn't always follow the established conventions (probably because the syntax is so old). The <>-operator is particulary nasty, as it's interpreted as max and because SAS interprets 0 and missing as false and anything else as true. — Ville Koskinen, Oct 21 '09 at 17:11

score 32 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 21 '09 at 11:12

32

got it! there is no function.

you need to do:

variable1 ** variable2;

answered Oct 21 '09 at 11:12

Allan Bowe

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 24 '11 at 09:05

6

data t;
  num = 5;
  pow = 2;
  res = num**pow;
run;
proc print data = t;
run;

edited Oct 24 '11 at 09:05

Triad sou.

answered Jan 06 '10 at 03:59

DaveW

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 26 '18 at 19:33

1

Use the POWER function and, if necessary, the CONSTANT function.

nbr_squared = power(nbr, 2);
nbr_cubed = power(nbr, 3);
E_to_the_power_2 = power(constant('E'),2);

answered Jul 26 '18 at 19:33

user10141063

Not sure why this got two upvotes, but it's incorrect; there is no POWER function in base SAS, unless you implement it yourself. The ** operator is the correct answer. – Joe Nov 16 '19 at 03:06
@Joe, `power()` is valid in `proc ds2` now. – whymath Jul 07 '20 at 03:22
1

@whymath Perhaps, but this is certainly not a PROC DS2 question. – Joe Jul 07 '20 at 03:27

3 Answers3