This page is a snapshot from the LWG issues list, see the Library Active Issues List for more information and the meaning of CD1 status.

### 844. `complex pow` return type is ambiguous

Section: 26.4.10 [cmplx.over] Status: CD1 Submitter: Howard Hinnant Opened: 2008-06-03 Last modified: 2016-01-28

Priority: Not Prioritized

View all other issues in [cmplx.over].

View all issues with CD1 status.

Discussion:

The current working draft is in an inconsistent state.

26.4.9 [complex.transcendentals] says that:

> `pow(complex<float>(), int())` returns a `complex<float>`.

26.4.10 [cmplx.over] says that:

> `pow(complex<float>(), int())` returns a `complex<double>`.

[ Sophia Antipolis: ]

> Since `int` promotes to `double`, and C99 doesn't have an `int`-based overload for `pow`, the C99 result is `complex<double>`, see also C99 7.22, see also library issue 550.

> Special note: ask P.J. Plauger.

> > Looks fine.

Proposed resolution:

Strike this `pow` overload in 26.4.2 [complex.syn] and in 26.4.9 [complex.transcendentals]:

>     template<class T> complex<T> pow(const complex<T>& x, int y);