I can imagine that 2**32 might not be optimised into anything cheaper. 2.1**3.1 would always be expensive for example and you don't expect an interpreter to be looking for a bit-shift optimisation because that would slow ** down even more if one didn;t exist. By comparison, << is a very cheap operator when translated down to machine code level and ** is one of the dearest.
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^M Free your mind!

In reply to Re^2: bitwise shift operator by Moron
in thread bitwise shift operator by perlknight

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