new_contents: # Problem 4
  # 10.0 points possible (graded)
  # Implement a function called closest_power that meets the specifications below.
  
  # For example,
  
  # closest_power(3,12) returns 2
  # closest_power(4,12) returns 2
  # closest_power(4,1) returns 0
  
  def closest_power(base, num):
    '''
    base: base of the exponential, integer > 1
    num: number you want to be closest to, integer > 0
    Find the integer exponent such that base**exponent is closest to num.
    Note that the base**exponent may be either greater or smaller than num.
    In case of a tie, return the smaller value.
    Returns the exponent.
    '''
    num = int(num)
    difference = base**num
    integerExponent = num
    exponents = range(0, num)
    for exponent in exponents:
      exponentValue = base**exponent
      if abs(exponentValue - num) < difference:
        difference = abs(exponentValue - num)
        integerExponent = exponent
      else:
        break
    return integerExponent
  
  
  print(closest_power(10, 550.0))
  
subject: Implement a function called closest_power