Re: 0^0 = 1?
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg95585] Re: [mg95555] 0^0 = 1?
- From: Kristjan Kannike <kkannike at physic.ut.ee>
- Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:59:55 -0500 (EST)
- References: <200901211148.GAA12585@smc.vnet.net>
On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 ivflam at gmail.com wrote: > Mathematica says 0^0 = Indeterminate > Derive says 0^0 = 1 > > May I have any opinions? > > Bruno > "Concrete Mathematics" by Graham, Knuth and Patashnik says 0^0 = 1 for purposes of discrete mathematics so the binomial theorem is valid for x = 0, y = 0, and/or x = -y. As they say: "The theorem is too important to be arbitrarily restricted! By contrast, the function 0^x is quite unimportant." Kristjan <http://www.physic.ut.ee/~kkannike/> ************************************************************************ Caution, in any case, may in reality be recklessness. We must always look at the cost of doing nothing. -- Crispin Tickell