C compilation {EV_MODEL_MATH}.distance_from_line and related functions

[finnianr]

(Assuming x^2 results in a call to pow ())
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In most cases, x * x would evaluate more quickly than pow(x, 2) for several reasons:

1. Function Call Overhead: The pow() function typically involves a function call overhead, which includes setting up the function call, passing arguments, and returning values. In contrast, x * x is a simple arithmetic operation that doesn't require function calls.
2. Special Cases Handling: The pow() function is designed to handle more general cases, such as non-integer exponents and handling special cases like NaN (Not a Number) and infinity. This generality may introduce additional overhead compared to the specialized case of squaring with x * x.
3. Optimization: Compilers can often optimize x * x more effectively than pow(x, 2) because the former is a simpler operation. Compilers may apply specific optimizations like loop unrolling or instruction pipelining to speed up the multiplication operation.

Therefore, x * x is likely to be faster than pow(x, 2) for squaring x in most scenarios.