Re: zero exponent

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Article #72

#72

From: Don H
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:21

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<Pfsszxt@aol.com> wrote in message
news:jlah04drbo3nucjn5n7n438gqbng4auf0r@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40:24 GMT, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com>
> wrote:
>
> >1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc.
> >Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof?
> >==============================
> >
>  It isn't a math fact --- it's a definition --- made so as to be
> consistant and for convenience when writing infinite series etc.

# And so is an arbitrary definition?
   What is a number n to the power x?
   The x indicates how many n must be multiplied together.
   Thus,
   n^x = n by n (x times)
   2^2 = (2, twice) = 4
   2^1 = (2, once) = 2
   2^0 = (2, no times) = 1 ?
     - but if you multiply 2 by itself, no times, you've still 2 ?
Whereas, if you multiple 0 by 0, two times, you've still 0 ?

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From: "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com>
Newsgroups: aus.mathematics
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