What is the value of 0^0 according to GMAC??

Expert replies

vittalgmat: Legendary Member; Posts: 621; Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:13 pmFollowed by: 4 members; Thanked: 33 times

by vittalgmat » Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:12 am

Hi,
I wanted to know the value of 0^0.
For GMAT purposes, do we say the value is 1 or do we say undefined, similar to any_number_divided_by_0 ??

Thanks in advance.

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:12 am

vivek.kapoor83: Legendary Member; Posts: 833; Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:56 am; Thanked: 13 times

by vivek.kapoor83 » Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:27 am

i think it cant be 1....but i have found this link ...telling various explantations and it cn hv both values,depending upon the context
refer to the folllowing

https://www.faqs.org/faqs/sci-math-faq/s ... bers/0to0/

Like this post

Stuart@KaplanGMAT: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 3225; Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pmFollowed by: 614 members; Location: Toronto; Thanked: 1710 times; GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Thu Jan 01, 2009 5:12 am

For GMAT purposes, 0^0 = 1

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course

Like this post

vittalgmat: Legendary Member; Posts: 621; Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:13 pmFollowed by: 4 members; Thanked: 33 times

by vittalgmat » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:40 am

Thanks Stuart.
However, I hope I never get a question which hinges on knowing the value of 0^0. Different test sites have different opinions. I went thru Kaplan course and I was told 0^0 = 1. But one of the questions in GMAT Club test relies on this info.

What is the value of integer J ?

1. |J| = J^(-J)
2. J^J = 1

The answer would be A or D depending on the value of 0^0.

Like this post

GMAT/MBA Expert

Ian Stewart: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2623; Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members; Location: Montreal; Thanked: 1090 times; GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:23 am

Mathematicians don't agree on how to define 0^0, so there's no way a GMAT test-taker will need to know how it's defined. For GMAT purposes, you should consider it to be undefined, much like the square root of a negative, but you will never be asked a question that hinges on knowing anything about 0^0 anyway. Questions that aren't real GMAT questions, like the one above, might be different.

For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com

Like this post

Post new topic Post Reply

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

560 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review