Q.96 - Intermediate Algebra

Question

In the following exercises, simplify each expression using the properties for exponents.

$$\begin{gathered} \left(a\right)-{15}^0 \\ \left(b\right)-{\left(15\right)}^0 \end{gathered}$$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The simplified form is: 

$\begin{array}{rcl}\left(a\right)-{15}^0& =& 1\\ \left(b\right)-{\left(15\right)}^0& =& -1\end{array}$

Step 1

The Zero exponent property is defined as$a^0=1,a\ne 0$.

Step 2

Using the zero exponent property, simplify the expression:  

(a) $-15$ is a non zero number, so,

$\begin{array}{rcl}-{15}^0& =& {\left(-15\right)}^0\\ & =& 1\end{array}$

(b) $15$ is a nonzero number, so,

$\begin{array}{rcl}-{\left(15\right)}^0& =& -\left(1\right)\\ & =& -1\end{array}$