Missing exponent function in a custom forumla (=power of n)
Asked by Daniel Rijkhof:

I just love product discovery! Lately i'm automating calculating priority of ideas. I'm doing this based on 'Custom Formula' fields with 'write your own' expressions.

I have found the page that describes what we can do with expression based forumlas:   
<https://support.atlassian.com/jira-product-discovery/docs/expression-based-formulas/>

I'm however really missing the option to do *x to the power of n* (x\^n):

#### Why do i need it: {#toc-hId-200738967}

The field weights are ranged 0 to 5 (with 0 the field not being filled).  
To make higher values worth more, I need to move from a linear set of values to an exponential set.  

Consider the readability of my current solution vs my preferred solution:

*Current:*

```
{__impact_0to1}*(1-({__effort_0to1}*{__effort_0to1}*{__effort_0to1}*{__effort_0to1}))
```

*Wanted:*

```
{__impact_0to1} * (1 - {__effort_0to1} ^ 4 )
```

#### Question: {#toc-hId--1606715496}

Perhaps this is possible already but not documented, or done differently.  

In that case, please tell me how to do this. If not, perhaps add it to the backlog?  


Answers:
author: Tanguy Crusson
body: thanks for the feedback [@Daniel Rijkhof](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1119047) , I don't think there's a way to do that today but we'll consider it when improving formulas

comments: author: Daniel Rijkhof
body: Thanks for the quick reply.  

I hope the request to add power of n (x\^n) to the options for formulas makes it onto some high priority quick wins list. It cannot be that much work can it ?

Cheers

Daniel


author: Jan-Hendrik Spieth
body: We'd appreciate a power function, as well. Currently, we're multiplying a lot ... ({effort}\*{effort}\*{effort} ... ;-))


author: Daniel Rijkhof
body: To do cool stuff we just need that.  

Here some examples that are doable with a \^:

#### Low end boost (low_end_boost: 4) {#toc-hId-200794484}

```
1-((1-{__ranged_0to1})^<low_end_boost>)
```

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/227821i75E9C0F3B10E8CE1/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

#### High end boost (high_end_boost: 3) {#toc-hId--1606659979}

```
{__ranged_0to1}^<high_end_boost>
```

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/227823i3CE1163670BFEEB4/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

Double boost: (high_end_boost and low_end_boost at 3)

```
({__ranged_0to1}^<high_end_boost>)^((1-{__ranged_0to1})^<low_end_boost>)
```

![image.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/227825i67F34C91DC9B84BE/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "image.png")

This last example is currently impossible.   

Depending on the distribution of values the last formula can really effectively distribute idea's in a matrix view nicely...


author: Tanguy Crusson
body: Oh. My. God. Are we still talking about product management and prioritization? ? I'd love to chat to understand how that works in your company because there seems to be a hell of a lot more science than what I've seen so far.


author: Daniel Rijkhof
body: I'm very much open to discuss this topic with you! How can we set it up?


author: Tanguy Crusson
body: [@Daniel Rijkhof](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1119047) by the way you can now give custom weights to options in a select/multi-select field (not just use a 1-5 rating but use any number you like in there).

I remember you wanted this pretty badly. let us know if that helps!


author: Daniel Rijkhof
body: [@Tanguy Crusson](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/502312)   
I've created both a new *select* and a new *multi-select* field but failed to find a way to configure specific values...  

I can only find the way of selecting 0 to 5 \*stars.  

Please enlighten me ?  

<br />

\*more like dots...


author: Jan-Hendrik Spieth
body: [@Daniel Rijkhof](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1119047)are you looking for this?  

![Screenshot 2023-03-13 083558.png](https://community.atlassian.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/245171i0675F830552C2931/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "Screenshot 2023-03-13 083558.png")


author: Daniel Rijkhof
body: Thanks [@Jan-Hendrik Spieth](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/386132) . That is what i was looking for. Somehow i missed it...  


Tags: formula