Two of the top pages when googled show different rules on exponential graphs. I'm pretty sure which is right, what do you think? -2^0 is -1 or 1? Don't rely on your calculator to get it right either. So do negative bases alternate between positive and negative outcomes? Purplemath would disagree.

Question

saifoo.khan · Answer

-1

anonymous · Answer

-1

katrinakaif · Answer

-1 Because : 
-2^0 = -(2^0)
         = -(1)

mjmk · Answer

http://www.homeschoolmath.net/teaching/negative_zero_exponents.php then check this out

katrinakaif · Answer

Interesting..though I have seen the site before..I still would stick with -1 though.. its a "valid" argument?

mjmk · Answer

-2^2=4

mjmk · Answer

A graphics calculator will draw all negative values but then again accordng to it -1^2=-1 and we know that's nonesense

mjmk · Answer

Ahhhh the brachets help try (-2)^X alternating

mjmk · Answer

Is it about correct notation then?

anonymous · Answer

lets say a^n. For  a negative if n is even you have a positive outcome. For a odd you get a negative outcome

mjmk · Answer

Yes my point but look at purple math http://www.purplemath.com/modules/graphexp4.htm says that the output is always negative. This contradicts the id that anything to power zero is 1

anonymous · Answer

if you had (-2)^0 it would be 1. Now it is like having (-1)(2)^0

mjmk · Answer

I'll be back later. Thanks for your input