Good time to remember 0^0=1. Or some people (like Knuth) like to assign that definition because it's convenient, and it makes everything work out in certain situations.
I don't think it's bad to say that 0^0=1 when you hear the whole story, which is that there are multiple right answers given how we define exponents and operations on 0. But it's misleading to say 0^0=1 and stop there. Similarly, after reading about this today, it's making more sense to me that we can, if we choose, define 1+2+3+...=-1/12, and it makes sense in some contexts. It's just that this isn't the only answer and it isn't the whole story.
I liked the article, and ended up reading a bunch of Evelyn's column earlier today. I see some people complaining about the pictures... I thought they were funny and relevant, my only nit pick is I can barely read the light blue text on the wink gif, the colors are so hard for me to look at.
I don't think it's bad to say that 0^0=1 when you hear the whole story, which is that there are multiple right answers given how we define exponents and operations on 0. But it's misleading to say 0^0=1 and stop there. Similarly, after reading about this today, it's making more sense to me that we can, if we choose, define 1+2+3+...=-1/12, and it makes sense in some contexts. It's just that this isn't the only answer and it isn't the whole story.
I liked the article, and ended up reading a bunch of Evelyn's column earlier today. I see some people complaining about the pictures... I thought they were funny and relevant, my only nit pick is I can barely read the light blue text on the wink gif, the colors are so hard for me to look at.