''' Purpose: demonstrate int and float numeric input processing
'''

print()

# get inputs

x = input( 'Enter base (integer): ' )  # right now, x is a string

n = input( 'Enter exponent (decimal): ' ) # right now, n is a string

print() 

# convert inputs to numerics

x = int( x )  # so we have the int() function; this line gets the string x,
                # converts it into an int, and stores the new value in the variable x
                # so we've cast x from a string to an int

# '11 12' cannot be converted into one number; int() only works with one value at a time

n = float( n )

# compute x to the nth power

value = x ** n  # ** does exponentiation

# display results

print( x, 'to power', n, 'equals', value )


# feel free to play with input to see how Python treats the input when it comes to casting (changing the data type)