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Maths problem!!!!

Just a little confused,
but would a minus number to the power of 0, be 1 or -1?

eg. -5^0= 1/-1???

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Reply 1
anything to the power of 0 is 1
Reply 2
Original post by Brawel
anything to the power of 0 is 1


thanks :smile:
Well (-5)^0=(-5)^(1-1)=(-5)^1 / (-5)^1=-5/-5=1
Original post by Brawel
anything to the power of 0 is 1


Are you absolutely sure?
Reply 5
Original post by Mr M
Are you absolutely sure?





Um yeah, unless you can prove otherwise?:confused:
Original post by Brawel
Um yeah, unless you can prove otherwise?:confused:


What about 0^0?
Reply 7
Original post by TenOfThem
What about 0^0?


Still 1
Original post by yt7777
Still 1


Really?

More fool me

I was under the impression it was undefined
Reply 9
Original post by TenOfThem
What about 0^0?



Still 1. 0^0= 0^(1-1)=0^1/0^1= 1
I'm using the laws of exponents here where X^(m-n) = X^m/X^n
Original post by Brawel
0^1/0^1= 1


You are saying that 0/0 is 1?

Once again ... I am under the impression that this is undefined
Incorrect, 0^0=0 or 1 depending on how it's defined.
Original post by TenOfThem
What about 0^0?


When you say that you are putting a number to the power of another, you are essentially saying, 'I am raising this number to the zeroeth power and therefore I am multiplying this number by itself 0 times'.

If you multiply nothing, you can only get the multiplicative identity, which just so happens to be 1.

The rule is most best easily shown by this formula: ' x^(n-1) = (x^n)/x'.

let x = 10 and n = 1 -->

x^0 = (x^1)/x -->
10^0 = 10/10 -->
1 = 1

Sorry, forgot how to use Latex already so it doesn't look pretty.
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by AdamskiUK
When you say that you are putting a number to the power of another, you are essentially saying, 'I am raising this number to the zeroeth power and therefore I am multiplying this number by itself 0 times'.

If you multiply nothing, you can only get the multiplicative identity, which just so happens to be 1.

The rule is most best easily shown by this formula: ' x^(n-1) = (x^n)/x'.

let x = 10 and n = 1 -->

x^0 = (x^1)/x -->
10^0 = 10/10 -->
1 = 1

Sorry, forgot how to use Latex already so it doesn't look pretty.

Read this

http://www.askamathematician.com/2010/12/q-what-does-00-zero-raised-to-the-zeroth-power-equal-why-do-mathematicians-and-high-school-teachers-disagree/
Reply 14
Original post by AdamskiUK
When you say that you are putting a number to the power of another, you are essentially saying, 'I am raising this number to the zeroeth power and therefore I am multiplying this number by itself 0 times'.

If you multiply nothing, you can only get the multiplicative identity, which just so happens to be 1.

.


The bits I've highlighted in bold don't actually mean anything.

As pointed out already, 000^0 is undefined.
Did I open a can of worms?
Original post by Brawel
...


Some reading for you.
Original post by Mr M
Did I open a can of worms?


You simply placed the can in front of me and I couldn't resist
Reply 18
Original post by Mr M
Some reading for you.



Cba to read the whole wiki page, but i'm always gonna take anything to the power of 0 as 1, for the purpose of exams. :tongue:
Original post by Brawel
Cba to read the whole wiki page, but i'm always gonna take anything to the power of 0 as 1, for the purpose of exams. :tongue:


That's ok so long as you are a GCSE student.

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