this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2023
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I know I'm bad at math but I don't understand how 2x0=0 but 2^0=1
How are they different answers when they're both essentially multiplying 2 by zero?
Someone with a bigger brain please explain this
Edit: I greatly appreciate all the explanations but all they've done is solidify the fact that I'll never be good at math 😭
This isn't strictly speaking a proof, but it did help me to accept it as it demonstrates the function that makes it 1.
2^3 = 2x2x2
2^2 = 2x2
(2^3)/(2^2) = (2x2x2)/(2x2) = 2
= 2^(3-2)
In general terms:
(x^a)/(x^b) = x^(a-b)
If a and b are the same number this is x^0 and obviously (x^a)/(x^a) is one because anything divided by itself is 1.
Hope that helps
Yes, of course, obviously...JFC, what??
That was pretty complicated, here is a simpler answer I hsve come up with:
1=(2x2x2)/(2x2x2)=2³/2³=2³⁻³＝2⁰
If that makes sense to you...