Question 97398
2 fundamental rules of indices are:


{{{ a^(m) }}} x {{{ a^(n) = a^(m+n) }}} and {{{ (a^m) / (a^n) = a^(m-n) }}}


using the second one, what happens if the powers m and n were the same?


{{{ (a^m) / (a^m) = a^(m-m) }}}
would become
{{{ 1 = a^0 }}}


since, the left hand side has something divided by itself --> this is always 1.


So ANY number a to the power zero is always 1. And a can be zero, so {{{0^0 = 1}}}


As to what this physically means, well that is a difficult question to answer and is not something i could answer but i know what the maths rules tell me and i believe them. That is the best i can give you.


cheers
jon.