cppPowerFunction

#include <iostream>

float power(int x, int y)
{
    int result{ 1 };
    bool neg{ y < 0 };

    if (neg) { y = -y; }
    for (; y; result *= x, --y);

    return (neg ? (float)1 / result : result);
}

int main()
{
    int a{ 0 };
    int b{ 0 };

    std::cout << "Enter a\n";
    std::cin >> a;
    std::cout << "Enter b\n";
    std::cin >> b;

    std::cout << "a ^ b = " <<  power(a,b) << '\n';

    return 0;
}