Name: Derek

Who is asking: Student
Level: Middle

Question:
Dear Mister/Mrs. Math Expert,
I would like to know why any number to the exponent 0 equals to 1 also, I would like you to please answer this question: -(4)^0 = ? I know the answer is 1 but I am confused as to if it is a negative one or a positive one.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP :)

MISTER/Mrs. MATH EXPERT :)
FROM: DEREK

Hi Derek
There is a note called 15 to the zero in the Quandaries and Queries section of Math Central that answers your first question.
   Your question about -4 is delicate, you have to be very careful with the notation. When evaluating a mathematical expression the convention is to first perform any operations that are inside parentheses, then any exponentiations followed by division, multiplication, subtraction and addition in that order. When you consider -(4)^0 you need to perform the exponentiation first, and since 4^0 = 1 then the final answer is -1. However if you write (-4)^0 then the (-4) has exponent 0. But (-4)^0 = 1 because y^0 = 1 when y is any number (other than 0).

Cheers,
Jack and Penny.