Thread View: aus.mathematics
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Started by Don H
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40
zero exponent
Author: Don H
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40
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1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc. Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof? ==============================
Re: zero exponent
Author: Virgil
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:29
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:29
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In article <IINNj.2620$ko5.41@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: > 1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc. > Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof? > ============================== It follows from the rule a^x/a^y = a^(x-y), for a^y =/= 0.
Re: zero exponent
Author: Pfsszxt
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:06
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:06
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On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40:24 GMT, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: >1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc. >Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof? >============================== > It isn't a math fact --- it's a definition --- made so as to be consistant and for convenience when writing infinite series etc.
Re: zero exponent
Author: Don H
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:21
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:21
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<Pfsszxt@aol.com> wrote in message
news:jlah04drbo3nucjn5n7n438gqbng4auf0r@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40:24 GMT, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com>
> wrote:
>
> >1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc.
> >Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof?
> >==============================
> >
> It isn't a math fact --- it's a definition --- made so as to be
> consistant and for convenience when writing infinite series etc.
# And so is an arbitrary definition?
What is a number n to the power x?
The x indicates how many n must be multiplied together.
Thus,
n^x = n by n (x times)
2^2 = (2, twice) = 4
2^1 = (2, once) = 2
2^0 = (2, no times) = 1 ?
- but if you multiply 2 by itself, no times, you've still 2 ?
Whereas, if you multiple 0 by 0, two times, you've still 0 ?
Re: zero exponent
Author: Virgil
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:35
Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:35
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In article <QIMOj.3408$ko5.2468@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: > <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 ? The standard inductive (or, if you prefer, recursive) definition of powers with positive integer exponents is: For any real/complex number x, x^1 = x and x^(n+1) = x^n * x.
Re: zero exponent
Author: Don H
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:56
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:56
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"Virgil" <Virgil@gmale.com> wrote in message news:Virgil-6FD0F3.13355320042008@comcast.dca.giganews.com... > In article <QIMOj.3408$ko5.2468@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, > "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: > > > <Pfsszxt@aol.com> wrote in message > > news:jlah04drbo3nucjn5n7n438gqbng4auf0r@4ax.com... > > > On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:40:24 GMT, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> > > > wrote: > > > > > > >1^0 = 1 ; 2^0 = 1; 3^0 = 1 ; etc. > > > >Is this axiomatic, or is there a proof? > > > >============================== > > > > > > > It isn't a math fact --- it's a definition --- made so as to be > > > consistant and for convenience when writing infinite series etc. > > > > # And so is an arbitrary definition? > > What is a number n to the power x? > > The x indicates how many n must be multiplied together. > > Thus, > > n^x = n by n (x times) > > 2^2 = (2, twice) = 4 > > 2^1 = (2, once) = 2 > > 2^0 = (2, no times) = 1 ? > > - but if you multiply 2 by itself, no times, you've still 2 ? > > Whereas, if you multiple 0 by 0, two times, you've still 0 ? > > The standard inductive (or, if you prefer, recursive) definition of > powers with positive integer exponents is: > For any real/complex number x, x^1 = x and x^(n+1) = x^n * x. # Thanks. However, consider two rabbits, say, Rob and Ruby, living in a Platonic relationship (2^0), who then decide to copulate, initially without result (2^1), but finally generating two kids (Richard, Rachel) (2^2), who all then continue to propagate, exponentially = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2... Likewise, two non-entities, Zero and Zilch, who, no matter how many times they try, produce nothing - or nothing evident to our eyes. Does it depend on what you start out with, as to what the result will be?
Re: zero exponent
Author: Virgil
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:03
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:03
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In article <vz4Pj.3714$ko5.1622@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: > "Virgil" <Virgil@gmale.com> wrote in message > news:Virgil-6FD0F3.13355320042008@comcast.dca.giganews.com... > > In article <QIMOj.3408$ko5.2468@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, > > "Don H" <donlhumphries@bigpond.com> wrote: > > > > > <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 ? > > > > The standard inductive (or, if you prefer, recursive) definition of > > powers with positive integer exponents is: > > For any real/complex number x, x^1 = x and x^(n+1) = x^n * x. > > # Thanks. > However, consider two rabbits, say, Rob and Ruby, living in a Platonic > relationship (2^0), who then decide to copulate, initially without result > (2^1), but finally generating two kids (Richard, Rachel) (2^2), who all then > continue to propagate, exponentially = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2... > Likewise, two non-entities, Zero and Zilch, who, no matter how many times > they try, produce nothing - or nothing evident to our eyes. > Does it depend on what you start out with, as to what the result will be? Of course! Otherwise 2^2 would be the same as 3^2.
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