Question

Suppose you didn't know that b^0=1. Explain how you could arrive at this fact by using the laws of exponents to simplify b^2 times b^0=b^2

I am so confused
Please help me!!
Thanks

~aShLeY

Answer 1

by the rules of powers

(a^m)(a^n) = a^(m+n)

so suppose we multiply

a^m by a^0

by the above law,
a^m(a^0) = a^m

so we multiplied a^m by some value and we got back a^m, no change in value!

the only way this could have happened is that a^0 must have had a value of 1

Answer 2

okay, that makes sense, thanks so much

Answer 3

what is the value of the expression blow if a=4 and b=-4