mathdad
Full Member
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- Apr 24, 2015
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In the Michael Sullivan textbook, the following definition is given:
"If a is a real number and n is a positive integer, then the symbol a^n represents the product of n factors of a."
The book goes on to show this:
a^n = a • a • . . . • a, where the left side of this equation represents n factors.
Sullivan stated that the above is understood to mean a^1 = a. This may be clear for Sullivan who has been teaching college mathematics for over 20 years but it makes no sense to me.
Questions
1. Does 0^1 = 0?
2. Does this rule also apply to expressions?
For example, (x + 2)^1 = x + 2.
You say?
"If a is a real number and n is a positive integer, then the symbol a^n represents the product of n factors of a."
The book goes on to show this:
a^n = a • a • . . . • a, where the left side of this equation represents n factors.
Sullivan stated that the above is understood to mean a^1 = a. This may be clear for Sullivan who has been teaching college mathematics for over 20 years but it makes no sense to me.
Questions
1. Does 0^1 = 0?
2. Does this rule also apply to expressions?
For example, (x + 2)^1 = x + 2.
You say?
