How would one calculate the $$$ value of exp2 multiplication? Eg if one finds a way, would it be worth keeping it a secret and creating a business around it?
Second of all, algorithms aren't patentable. The only way to keep it exclusive would be to keep it secret. I can't think of any examples of a private company making a major scientific or mathematical breakthrough and then keeping it secret long enough to profit off of it.
I wish. The RSA cryptosystem was patented and under license until 2000 in the US, even though the math wasn't secret.
Algorithms absolutely are patentable because they are computing "machines." It's mathematical equations that aren't patentable, because they're closer to laws of nature.