A Conversation for Ask h2g2
Why is Zero plural?
Bels - an incurable optimist. A1050986 Started conversation Feb 7, 2003
You know, as in two bananas, one banana, no bananas ...
Why is Zero plural?
Just Bob aka Robert Thompson, plugging my film blog cinemainferno-blog.blogspot.co.uk Posted Feb 7, 2003
Because it's not 1. Next question!
Why is Zero plural?
Wampus Posted Feb 7, 2003
Easy question.
Now for a hard one...why is anything to the zeroth power equal to one?
Why is Zero plural?
Beatrice Posted Feb 7, 2003
It's defined that way. It just fits in with a mathematical frame of reference, without meaning anything per se.
Damn useful though!
Why is Zero plural?
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Feb 8, 2003
If you divide x to the power of 5 by x, you get x to the power of 4.
If you divide x to the power of 4 by x, you get x to the power of 3.
If you divide x to the power of 3 by x, you get x to the power of 2.
If you divide x to the power of 2 by x, you get x to the power of 1.
If you divide x to the power of 1 by x, what should you get?
Well we know that x to the power of 1 is x, and x/x = 1, so it makes sense that x to the power of 0 is 1. So we define it that way.
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Why is Zero plural?
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