std::pow implementation

[Gabriel Dos Reis]

Michael Matz <matz@suse.de> writes:

| > It is nonsense only after you have modified what I said.
| >
| > A simple function like 'std::string::end() const' should be cost-free.
| 
| You are speaking about a special case (one small function) to support your
| suggestion (makeing it happen for all functions).

I'm taking it as examplar of one of the various kinds of unfortunate
consequences that put people to believe that a public data member is
faster than private.  Because, somehow it was decided that the compiler
knows better.  The root is the same.

-- Gaby