Question

For an exponential (or logarithmic) function with base a, why must a be a positive number not equal to 1? What would happen if a were negative? What would happen if a were zero? What would happen if a were 1? Explore using these values of a in the equation form f(x)=a^x
Why are negative values, zero, and 1 excluded?

Answer 1

Zero and one are useless values since they yield themselves; negatives are excluded for convenience when some rational powers, such as one half, are introduced. These values are mainly excluded not for the purity of math but for its consistency and clarity

Answer 2

Thank you so much!