Comment by kragen

It doesn't improve readability. Compare:

   discrim = b² - 4ac;                  // Standard notation
   float discrim = pow(b, 2) - 4*a*c;   // C
   float discrim = b \ 2 - 4*a*c;       // C∀

I would argue that these are presented here in descending order of readability.

Also its typing rules are really complicated; apply it to two integers and magically you are thrown into the floating-point world where you can never be completely certain of anything, but if you use an unsigned exponent then you stay safely in integer-land.