document.write( "Question 937500: x^0=1
\n" );
document.write( "how? \n" );
document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #570867 by adrian1baldovino(1)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Ex.1: 5^3 / 5^2 = 125 / 25 = 5 \n" ); document.write( " 5^3 / 5^2 = 5 ^(3-2) = 5^1 = 5\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ex.2: 5^3 / 5^3 = 125 / 125 = 1 \n" ); document.write( " 5^3 / 5^3 = 5 ^(3-3) = 5^0 = \n" ); document.write( " ... and the result must be 1. So 5^0 =1.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The rule is: x^b / x^c = x^(b-c).\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In order to generalize this rule for the case b=c, it must be defined that x^0 = 1 (x is any number different from 0). In mathematics, usefulness and consistency are very important. This convention allows us to extend definitions of power that would otherwise require treating 0 as a special case.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This method can also explain the definition: x^(-b) = 1 / x^b.\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Ex. 5^2 / 5^4 = 25 / 625 = 1 / 5^2 \n" ); document.write( " 5^2 / 5^4 = 5 ^(2-4) = 5^(-2) \n" ); document.write( " |