eli5: why is x⁰ = 1 instead of non-existent?

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It kinda doesn’t make sense.
x¹= x

x² = x*x

x³= x*x*x

etc…

and even with negative numbers you’re still multiplying the number by itself

like (x)-² = 1/x² = 1/(x*x)

In: 1797

38 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

OK so, when powers raise by 1, e.g. From x^2 to x^3, it multiplies by x. Therefore, when powers decrease by 1, it divides by x. And therefore, x^1 divided by x equals 1. So x^0 is 1.

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