gistfile1.rb

p "Enter a number: "
num1 = gets.chomp.to_i
p "Enter an exponent: "
num2 = gets.chomp.to_i


def exponent(number, exp)
  answer = number
  if exp == 0
    answer = 1
  else
    (exp - 1).times do |i| 
      # for 2 ^ 2, the 2 is multiplied by itself 1 time, or 2 - 1
      # in the general case, n ^ m is n multiplied by itself m - 1 times
      answer *= number
      p answer
    end
  end
  answer
end

answer = exponent(num1, num2)

p "#{num1} to the power #{num2} equals #{answer}"