How do the stages look in a power to function?

// STYC page. 214, exc. 11.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{

    float a = 0;
    float b = 0;

    printf("You have 3. To the power of what number do you want it now? Type in a number: ");
    scanf("%f", &a);

    b = pow(3, a);

    printf("3 to the power of %f is: %f", a, b);

    return 0;
}

// STYC page. 955, exc. 11.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int three_powered( int power );

int main( void )
{

    int a = 4;
    int b = 9;

    printf("\n3 to the power of %d is %d", a, three_powered(a) );
    printf("\n3 to the power of %d is %d", b, three_powered(b) );

    return 0;
}

int three_powered( int power )
{
    if (power < 1)
        return ( 1 );
      else
        return ( 3 * three_powered( power - 1 ) );
      // ( 3 ) * ( 3 ) * ( 3 ) * ( 3 ) ?
}