Square and cube factories
Input
make_power(2)(3)
Output
9
make_power(2) returns a function that squares its input. Calling it with 3 returns 9.
Full lesson preview
Create a function factory returning customized functions
Build a function factory that returns specialized functions capturing parameters from their creation scope.
Python practice15 minFunctions & ScopeIntermediateLast updated March 17, 2026
Problem statement
Write a function make_power(exponent) that returns a new function. The returned function should accept a single numeric argument x and return x ** exponent. This demonstrates how a factory function captures and reuses configuration (exponent) via closures.
Task
Implement make_power(exponent) that returns a function which raises its input to the given exponent.
Examples
Zero exponent
Input
make_power(0)(5)
Output
1
Any non-zero number to the power 0 is 1.
Input format
Call make_power with a numeric exponent and immediately call the returned function with a numeric value, e.g., make_power(3)(2).
Output format
Return the numeric result of raising the input to the stored exponent (as Python would display it).
Constraints
- exponent may be any integer (positive, zero, negative).
- The returned function should work with integers and floats.
- Use closures to capture the exponent value.
Samples
Sample 1
Input
make_power(-1)(2)
Output
0.5
A negative exponent inverts the base (2 ** -1 == 0.5).