CFD Online Discussion Forums - Calculating polynomials in OF source

I noticed that the class member Foam:: polynomial::value() seems to calculate a polynomial by actually calculating the powers:

Code:

  167     forAll(coeffs_, i)

  168     {

  169         y += coeffs_[i].first()*pow(x, coeffs_[i].second());

  170     }

while Foam:: polynomialFunction::value () uses the Horner scheme:

Code:

  168     // avoid costly pow() in calculation

  169     scalar powX = x;

  170     for (label i=1; i<coeffs.size(); ++i)

  171     {

  172         val += coeffs[i]*powX;

  173         powX *= x;

  174     }

I'm just curious -- is there any reason to use the 'pow ()' function (rather than multiplication) in the former?