HP 48GX Collector’s Edition (merged) - please don't start two threads

[Joe Horn]

(11-21-2023 12:38 AM)avsebastian Wrote:  0 ^ 0 = 1 ????

the Same on hp 50g.

I think it is a very serious mistake

The simplest and clearest explanation I've ever seen is based on the definition of powers, namely, "a^b" means "start with the multiplicative identity (1), then multiply by a, b times." Example: "2^3" means "start with 1 then multiply by 2, three times." Therefore, "0^0" means "start with 1, then multiply by 0, zero times." The result, of course, is 1.

The USUAL definition of powers, "a^b means start with a, and multiply by a, b times" is incorrect, since that yields a^(b+1). Instead, the process always begins with the multiplicative identity, just as products always start with the additive identity.