We have some sophisticated math in our configuration/pricing system, which includes formulas in which (arbitrary) numbers need to be raised to (arbitrary) fractional powers. For example, a^2.3879 or b^6.912358. After debugging our pages when they simply didn't work (the formulas had to be set up as Workflow field updates), I determined (and then found an online reference to) the fact that Salesforce only allows positive, integer exponents.

Is there some way around this? I cannot imagine I'm the first person to encounter this issue. Some math library I could add to the system? Or workaround? Any advice is very much appreciated.