How do we know our definitions don't lead to contradictions

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How do we assure ourselves when defining an operation that it does not lead to contradictions? For example 0! := 1. I understand the practicality of why it is defined this way, but I am wary of what could happen if another such operation is created and defined in a way that leads to future contradictions that were not considered. This often happens when people come up with definitions for division by zero. How do we know it doesn’t happen with other definitions?



Note that I'm not asking about the consistency of our axioms for N or anything like that, but about definitions built upon those axioms.










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  • 1




    Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    1 hour ago











  • $0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    1 hour ago










  • @Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    20 mins ago














up vote
4
down vote

favorite












How do we assure ourselves when defining an operation that it does not lead to contradictions? For example 0! := 1. I understand the practicality of why it is defined this way, but I am wary of what could happen if another such operation is created and defined in a way that leads to future contradictions that were not considered. This often happens when people come up with definitions for division by zero. How do we know it doesn’t happen with other definitions?



Note that I'm not asking about the consistency of our axioms for N or anything like that, but about definitions built upon those axioms.










share|cite|improve this question

















  • 1




    Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    1 hour ago











  • $0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    1 hour ago










  • @Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    20 mins ago












up vote
4
down vote

favorite









up vote
4
down vote

favorite











How do we assure ourselves when defining an operation that it does not lead to contradictions? For example 0! := 1. I understand the practicality of why it is defined this way, but I am wary of what could happen if another such operation is created and defined in a way that leads to future contradictions that were not considered. This often happens when people come up with definitions for division by zero. How do we know it doesn’t happen with other definitions?



Note that I'm not asking about the consistency of our axioms for N or anything like that, but about definitions built upon those axioms.










share|cite|improve this question













How do we assure ourselves when defining an operation that it does not lead to contradictions? For example 0! := 1. I understand the practicality of why it is defined this way, but I am wary of what could happen if another such operation is created and defined in a way that leads to future contradictions that were not considered. This often happens when people come up with definitions for division by zero. How do we know it doesn’t happen with other definitions?



Note that I'm not asking about the consistency of our axioms for N or anything like that, but about definitions built upon those axioms.







logic foundations






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asked 1 hour ago









Afa Juste

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413







  • 1




    Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    1 hour ago











  • $0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    1 hour ago










  • @Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    20 mins ago












  • 1




    Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    1 hour ago











  • $0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
    – Mauro ALLEGRANZA
    1 hour ago










  • @Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
    – spaceisdarkgreen
    20 mins ago







1




1




Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
– spaceisdarkgreen
1 hour ago





Formally speaking, a definition cannot be inconsistent. What it might do is make certain universal theorems we have proved about the operation before we extended it no longer true.
– spaceisdarkgreen
1 hour ago













$0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
– Mauro ALLEGRANZA
1 hour ago




$0 ne 1$ is not a definition; it is a theorem.
– Mauro ALLEGRANZA
1 hour ago












@Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
– spaceisdarkgreen
20 mins ago




@Mauro that’s “zero factorial equals one”
– spaceisdarkgreen
20 mins ago










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
1
down vote













Certain types of definitions can lead to contradictions. It is up to the person proposing the definition to show that this can't happen. Look up well-defined.






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    up vote
    1
    down vote













    It depends what you mean by a definition. A definition such as
    $$
    P mathrel:= i in BbbN mid mbox$i$ is prime
    $$

    where the defining property of $P$ simply states that it is equal to something that already exists is completely unproblematic. But in addition to explicit definitions like this, we often use various kinds of implicit definition. A recursive definition such as:
    $$
    beginalign*
    0! &= 1 \
    (n+1)! & = n! times (n + 1)
    endalign*
    $$

    is a fairly explicit form of implicit definition that can be shown to be consistent using the recursion theorem as discussed Marcel's answer.



    A recursive "definition" (of a function $f : BbbN to BbbN$) such as
    $$
    beginalign*
    f(0) &= 1 \
    f(n+1) & = f(n+2)
    endalign*
    $$



    would be considered undefined in programming languages, but from a mathematical perspective it is just a loose definition (i.e., an implicit definition that does not uniquely determine the defined object): it says that $f(0) = 1$ and $f(i) = f(j)$ for $i, j > 0$ and this system of equations has many solutions. If we had instead:



    $$
    beginalign*
    f(0) &= 1 \
    f(n+1) & = 2(f(n+2)+1)
    endalign*
    $$



    then this "recursive" definition would be inconsistent, i.e., there are no solutions and asserting the existence of such an $f$ would lead to a contradiction (do you see why?).



    Another form of implicit definition would be to define the function $exp : BbbR to BbbR$ as the solution of the following system of equations:



    $$
    beginalign*
    exp(0) &= 1 \
    exp'(x) &= exp(x)
    endalign*
    $$



    Here an explicit construction of a witness (say using a power series) shows that the definition is consistent (and a simple argument using properties of the derivative shows that the definition characterises $exp$, i.e., the equations have only one solution).



    In general, there are many forms of implicit definition. To show that it is consistent to take a property $phi(X)$ to be the defining property of a new object $X$, you have to prove $exists xphi(x)$. You will probably also want to prove that the existence is unique, i.e., $forall xforall y(phi(x) land phi(y) Rightarrow x = y)$, unless you really did intend your definition to be loose. If you are lucky, then something like the recursion theorem or the theory of differential equations will help with these proofs.






    share|cite|improve this answer



























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      A recursively defined function like the factorial function is well-defined by the recursion theorem, which can be proved by induction:



      https://math.stackexchange.com/a/46760/29892



      Henkin has a great article on recursion available here:



      https://www.jstor.org/stable/2308975






      share|cite|improve this answer




















      • Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
        – Marcel Besixdouze
        1 hour ago


















      up vote
      0
      down vote













      A definition like that can't lead to a contradiction since it is just a definition: the meaning you've assigned to the symbols "$0!$".



      A definition might lead to a problem with some rules of arithmetic you like. For example, if you chose to define $x^0 = 0$ instead of $1$ then the identlty
      $$
      x^a+b= x^ax^b
      $$

      would fail sometimes. So it would be a bad definition, but not a contradiction.



      All the usual suggestions for how to define division by $0$ break some identity in ordinary arithmetic, which is why we don't use any of them.



      Defining $0! = 1$ preserves the identity
      $$
      n! = n(n-1)!
      $$

      No other definition would do that.






      share|cite|improve this answer



























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        0
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        About $0^0$,



        A polynomial, in general is written as



        $$a_0+a_1x+...a_nx^n=sum_i=0^na_ix^i$$



        To be consistant, one will put $0^0=1$, to get the constant term $a_0$.



        but



        If you compute $$lim_xto+infty(e^-x)^frac-1ln(x)$$



        it gives $0^0=+infty$.






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          5 Answers
          5






          active

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          5 Answers
          5






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          1
          down vote













          Certain types of definitions can lead to contradictions. It is up to the person proposing the definition to show that this can't happen. Look up well-defined.






          share|cite|improve this answer
























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            Certain types of definitions can lead to contradictions. It is up to the person proposing the definition to show that this can't happen. Look up well-defined.






            share|cite|improve this answer






















              up vote
              1
              down vote










              up vote
              1
              down vote









              Certain types of definitions can lead to contradictions. It is up to the person proposing the definition to show that this can't happen. Look up well-defined.






              share|cite|improve this answer












              Certain types of definitions can lead to contradictions. It is up to the person proposing the definition to show that this can't happen. Look up well-defined.







              share|cite|improve this answer












              share|cite|improve this answer



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              answered 1 hour ago









              Robert Israel

              310k23202447




              310k23202447




















                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote













                  It depends what you mean by a definition. A definition such as
                  $$
                  P mathrel:= i in BbbN mid mbox$i$ is prime
                  $$

                  where the defining property of $P$ simply states that it is equal to something that already exists is completely unproblematic. But in addition to explicit definitions like this, we often use various kinds of implicit definition. A recursive definition such as:
                  $$
                  beginalign*
                  0! &= 1 \
                  (n+1)! & = n! times (n + 1)
                  endalign*
                  $$

                  is a fairly explicit form of implicit definition that can be shown to be consistent using the recursion theorem as discussed Marcel's answer.



                  A recursive "definition" (of a function $f : BbbN to BbbN$) such as
                  $$
                  beginalign*
                  f(0) &= 1 \
                  f(n+1) & = f(n+2)
                  endalign*
                  $$



                  would be considered undefined in programming languages, but from a mathematical perspective it is just a loose definition (i.e., an implicit definition that does not uniquely determine the defined object): it says that $f(0) = 1$ and $f(i) = f(j)$ for $i, j > 0$ and this system of equations has many solutions. If we had instead:



                  $$
                  beginalign*
                  f(0) &= 1 \
                  f(n+1) & = 2(f(n+2)+1)
                  endalign*
                  $$



                  then this "recursive" definition would be inconsistent, i.e., there are no solutions and asserting the existence of such an $f$ would lead to a contradiction (do you see why?).



                  Another form of implicit definition would be to define the function $exp : BbbR to BbbR$ as the solution of the following system of equations:



                  $$
                  beginalign*
                  exp(0) &= 1 \
                  exp'(x) &= exp(x)
                  endalign*
                  $$



                  Here an explicit construction of a witness (say using a power series) shows that the definition is consistent (and a simple argument using properties of the derivative shows that the definition characterises $exp$, i.e., the equations have only one solution).



                  In general, there are many forms of implicit definition. To show that it is consistent to take a property $phi(X)$ to be the defining property of a new object $X$, you have to prove $exists xphi(x)$. You will probably also want to prove that the existence is unique, i.e., $forall xforall y(phi(x) land phi(y) Rightarrow x = y)$, unless you really did intend your definition to be loose. If you are lucky, then something like the recursion theorem or the theory of differential equations will help with these proofs.






                  share|cite|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote













                    It depends what you mean by a definition. A definition such as
                    $$
                    P mathrel:= i in BbbN mid mbox$i$ is prime
                    $$

                    where the defining property of $P$ simply states that it is equal to something that already exists is completely unproblematic. But in addition to explicit definitions like this, we often use various kinds of implicit definition. A recursive definition such as:
                    $$
                    beginalign*
                    0! &= 1 \
                    (n+1)! & = n! times (n + 1)
                    endalign*
                    $$

                    is a fairly explicit form of implicit definition that can be shown to be consistent using the recursion theorem as discussed Marcel's answer.



                    A recursive "definition" (of a function $f : BbbN to BbbN$) such as
                    $$
                    beginalign*
                    f(0) &= 1 \
                    f(n+1) & = f(n+2)
                    endalign*
                    $$



                    would be considered undefined in programming languages, but from a mathematical perspective it is just a loose definition (i.e., an implicit definition that does not uniquely determine the defined object): it says that $f(0) = 1$ and $f(i) = f(j)$ for $i, j > 0$ and this system of equations has many solutions. If we had instead:



                    $$
                    beginalign*
                    f(0) &= 1 \
                    f(n+1) & = 2(f(n+2)+1)
                    endalign*
                    $$



                    then this "recursive" definition would be inconsistent, i.e., there are no solutions and asserting the existence of such an $f$ would lead to a contradiction (do you see why?).



                    Another form of implicit definition would be to define the function $exp : BbbR to BbbR$ as the solution of the following system of equations:



                    $$
                    beginalign*
                    exp(0) &= 1 \
                    exp'(x) &= exp(x)
                    endalign*
                    $$



                    Here an explicit construction of a witness (say using a power series) shows that the definition is consistent (and a simple argument using properties of the derivative shows that the definition characterises $exp$, i.e., the equations have only one solution).



                    In general, there are many forms of implicit definition. To show that it is consistent to take a property $phi(X)$ to be the defining property of a new object $X$, you have to prove $exists xphi(x)$. You will probably also want to prove that the existence is unique, i.e., $forall xforall y(phi(x) land phi(y) Rightarrow x = y)$, unless you really did intend your definition to be loose. If you are lucky, then something like the recursion theorem or the theory of differential equations will help with these proofs.






                    share|cite|improve this answer






















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote









                      It depends what you mean by a definition. A definition such as
                      $$
                      P mathrel:= i in BbbN mid mbox$i$ is prime
                      $$

                      where the defining property of $P$ simply states that it is equal to something that already exists is completely unproblematic. But in addition to explicit definitions like this, we often use various kinds of implicit definition. A recursive definition such as:
                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      0! &= 1 \
                      (n+1)! & = n! times (n + 1)
                      endalign*
                      $$

                      is a fairly explicit form of implicit definition that can be shown to be consistent using the recursion theorem as discussed Marcel's answer.



                      A recursive "definition" (of a function $f : BbbN to BbbN$) such as
                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      f(0) &= 1 \
                      f(n+1) & = f(n+2)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      would be considered undefined in programming languages, but from a mathematical perspective it is just a loose definition (i.e., an implicit definition that does not uniquely determine the defined object): it says that $f(0) = 1$ and $f(i) = f(j)$ for $i, j > 0$ and this system of equations has many solutions. If we had instead:



                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      f(0) &= 1 \
                      f(n+1) & = 2(f(n+2)+1)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      then this "recursive" definition would be inconsistent, i.e., there are no solutions and asserting the existence of such an $f$ would lead to a contradiction (do you see why?).



                      Another form of implicit definition would be to define the function $exp : BbbR to BbbR$ as the solution of the following system of equations:



                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      exp(0) &= 1 \
                      exp'(x) &= exp(x)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      Here an explicit construction of a witness (say using a power series) shows that the definition is consistent (and a simple argument using properties of the derivative shows that the definition characterises $exp$, i.e., the equations have only one solution).



                      In general, there are many forms of implicit definition. To show that it is consistent to take a property $phi(X)$ to be the defining property of a new object $X$, you have to prove $exists xphi(x)$. You will probably also want to prove that the existence is unique, i.e., $forall xforall y(phi(x) land phi(y) Rightarrow x = y)$, unless you really did intend your definition to be loose. If you are lucky, then something like the recursion theorem or the theory of differential equations will help with these proofs.






                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      It depends what you mean by a definition. A definition such as
                      $$
                      P mathrel:= i in BbbN mid mbox$i$ is prime
                      $$

                      where the defining property of $P$ simply states that it is equal to something that already exists is completely unproblematic. But in addition to explicit definitions like this, we often use various kinds of implicit definition. A recursive definition such as:
                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      0! &= 1 \
                      (n+1)! & = n! times (n + 1)
                      endalign*
                      $$

                      is a fairly explicit form of implicit definition that can be shown to be consistent using the recursion theorem as discussed Marcel's answer.



                      A recursive "definition" (of a function $f : BbbN to BbbN$) such as
                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      f(0) &= 1 \
                      f(n+1) & = f(n+2)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      would be considered undefined in programming languages, but from a mathematical perspective it is just a loose definition (i.e., an implicit definition that does not uniquely determine the defined object): it says that $f(0) = 1$ and $f(i) = f(j)$ for $i, j > 0$ and this system of equations has many solutions. If we had instead:



                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      f(0) &= 1 \
                      f(n+1) & = 2(f(n+2)+1)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      then this "recursive" definition would be inconsistent, i.e., there are no solutions and asserting the existence of such an $f$ would lead to a contradiction (do you see why?).



                      Another form of implicit definition would be to define the function $exp : BbbR to BbbR$ as the solution of the following system of equations:



                      $$
                      beginalign*
                      exp(0) &= 1 \
                      exp'(x) &= exp(x)
                      endalign*
                      $$



                      Here an explicit construction of a witness (say using a power series) shows that the definition is consistent (and a simple argument using properties of the derivative shows that the definition characterises $exp$, i.e., the equations have only one solution).



                      In general, there are many forms of implicit definition. To show that it is consistent to take a property $phi(X)$ to be the defining property of a new object $X$, you have to prove $exists xphi(x)$. You will probably also want to prove that the existence is unique, i.e., $forall xforall y(phi(x) land phi(y) Rightarrow x = y)$, unless you really did intend your definition to be loose. If you are lucky, then something like the recursion theorem or the theory of differential equations will help with these proofs.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered 28 mins ago









                      Rob Arthan

                      28k42865




                      28k42865




















                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          A recursively defined function like the factorial function is well-defined by the recursion theorem, which can be proved by induction:



                          https://math.stackexchange.com/a/46760/29892



                          Henkin has a great article on recursion available here:



                          https://www.jstor.org/stable/2308975






                          share|cite|improve this answer




















                          • Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                            – Marcel Besixdouze
                            1 hour ago















                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          A recursively defined function like the factorial function is well-defined by the recursion theorem, which can be proved by induction:



                          https://math.stackexchange.com/a/46760/29892



                          Henkin has a great article on recursion available here:



                          https://www.jstor.org/stable/2308975






                          share|cite|improve this answer




















                          • Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                            – Marcel Besixdouze
                            1 hour ago













                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote









                          A recursively defined function like the factorial function is well-defined by the recursion theorem, which can be proved by induction:



                          https://math.stackexchange.com/a/46760/29892



                          Henkin has a great article on recursion available here:



                          https://www.jstor.org/stable/2308975






                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          A recursively defined function like the factorial function is well-defined by the recursion theorem, which can be proved by induction:



                          https://math.stackexchange.com/a/46760/29892



                          Henkin has a great article on recursion available here:



                          https://www.jstor.org/stable/2308975







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered 1 hour ago









                          Marcel Besixdouze

                          1,112717




                          1,112717











                          • Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                            – Marcel Besixdouze
                            1 hour ago

















                          • Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                            – Marcel Besixdouze
                            1 hour ago
















                          Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                          – Marcel Besixdouze
                          1 hour ago





                          Here's an excellent video from Computerphile for a different perspective: youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9NEXX1VHc
                          – Marcel Besixdouze
                          1 hour ago











                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          A definition like that can't lead to a contradiction since it is just a definition: the meaning you've assigned to the symbols "$0!$".



                          A definition might lead to a problem with some rules of arithmetic you like. For example, if you chose to define $x^0 = 0$ instead of $1$ then the identlty
                          $$
                          x^a+b= x^ax^b
                          $$

                          would fail sometimes. So it would be a bad definition, but not a contradiction.



                          All the usual suggestions for how to define division by $0$ break some identity in ordinary arithmetic, which is why we don't use any of them.



                          Defining $0! = 1$ preserves the identity
                          $$
                          n! = n(n-1)!
                          $$

                          No other definition would do that.






                          share|cite|improve this answer
























                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote













                            A definition like that can't lead to a contradiction since it is just a definition: the meaning you've assigned to the symbols "$0!$".



                            A definition might lead to a problem with some rules of arithmetic you like. For example, if you chose to define $x^0 = 0$ instead of $1$ then the identlty
                            $$
                            x^a+b= x^ax^b
                            $$

                            would fail sometimes. So it would be a bad definition, but not a contradiction.



                            All the usual suggestions for how to define division by $0$ break some identity in ordinary arithmetic, which is why we don't use any of them.



                            Defining $0! = 1$ preserves the identity
                            $$
                            n! = n(n-1)!
                            $$

                            No other definition would do that.






                            share|cite|improve this answer






















                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote









                              A definition like that can't lead to a contradiction since it is just a definition: the meaning you've assigned to the symbols "$0!$".



                              A definition might lead to a problem with some rules of arithmetic you like. For example, if you chose to define $x^0 = 0$ instead of $1$ then the identlty
                              $$
                              x^a+b= x^ax^b
                              $$

                              would fail sometimes. So it would be a bad definition, but not a contradiction.



                              All the usual suggestions for how to define division by $0$ break some identity in ordinary arithmetic, which is why we don't use any of them.



                              Defining $0! = 1$ preserves the identity
                              $$
                              n! = n(n-1)!
                              $$

                              No other definition would do that.






                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              A definition like that can't lead to a contradiction since it is just a definition: the meaning you've assigned to the symbols "$0!$".



                              A definition might lead to a problem with some rules of arithmetic you like. For example, if you chose to define $x^0 = 0$ instead of $1$ then the identlty
                              $$
                              x^a+b= x^ax^b
                              $$

                              would fail sometimes. So it would be a bad definition, but not a contradiction.



                              All the usual suggestions for how to define division by $0$ break some identity in ordinary arithmetic, which is why we don't use any of them.



                              Defining $0! = 1$ preserves the identity
                              $$
                              n! = n(n-1)!
                              $$

                              No other definition would do that.







                              share|cite|improve this answer












                              share|cite|improve this answer



                              share|cite|improve this answer










                              answered 1 hour ago









                              Ethan Bolker

                              37.8k543100




                              37.8k543100




















                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  About $0^0$,



                                  A polynomial, in general is written as



                                  $$a_0+a_1x+...a_nx^n=sum_i=0^na_ix^i$$



                                  To be consistant, one will put $0^0=1$, to get the constant term $a_0$.



                                  but



                                  If you compute $$lim_xto+infty(e^-x)^frac-1ln(x)$$



                                  it gives $0^0=+infty$.






                                  share|cite|improve this answer
























                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    About $0^0$,



                                    A polynomial, in general is written as



                                    $$a_0+a_1x+...a_nx^n=sum_i=0^na_ix^i$$



                                    To be consistant, one will put $0^0=1$, to get the constant term $a_0$.



                                    but



                                    If you compute $$lim_xto+infty(e^-x)^frac-1ln(x)$$



                                    it gives $0^0=+infty$.






                                    share|cite|improve this answer






















                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote









                                      About $0^0$,



                                      A polynomial, in general is written as



                                      $$a_0+a_1x+...a_nx^n=sum_i=0^na_ix^i$$



                                      To be consistant, one will put $0^0=1$, to get the constant term $a_0$.



                                      but



                                      If you compute $$lim_xto+infty(e^-x)^frac-1ln(x)$$



                                      it gives $0^0=+infty$.






                                      share|cite|improve this answer












                                      About $0^0$,



                                      A polynomial, in general is written as



                                      $$a_0+a_1x+...a_nx^n=sum_i=0^na_ix^i$$



                                      To be consistant, one will put $0^0=1$, to get the constant term $a_0$.



                                      but



                                      If you compute $$lim_xto+infty(e^-x)^frac-1ln(x)$$



                                      it gives $0^0=+infty$.







                                      share|cite|improve this answer












                                      share|cite|improve this answer



                                      share|cite|improve this answer










                                      answered 1 hour ago









                                      hamam_Abdallah

                                      35.2k21532




                                      35.2k21532



























                                           

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