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Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:39:12 -0800 (PST)
From: Pedro Giffuni <pfg@apache.org>
Reply-To: Pedro Giffuni <pfg@apache.org>
Subject: Re: Calc behavior: result of 0 ^ 0
To: "dev@openoffice.apache.org" <dev@openoffice.apache.org>
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(OK, I guess it's better to re-subscribe to the list).=0A=0AIn reply to=A0N=
orbert Thiebaud*:=0A=0AIn the Power rule, which *is* commonly used for diff=
erentiation, we take a series=0Aof polinomials where n !=3D0. n is not only=
 different than zero, most importantly,=0Ait is a constant.=0A=0AOf course =
we can use the power function a^b in your spreadsheet when the b=0Ais a con=
stant but you=A0have to understand the assumptions being made before=0Ablin=
dingly applying formulas, and we just can't assume every speadsheet=0Auser =
will use a restricted set of capabilities.=0A=0ANow, in a spreadsheet this =
formula would be used if you have a polinomial and=0Ayou want to=A0calculat=
e and/or graph it's derivative. Since we don't do symbolic=0Amath in the sp=
eadsheet you would actually do this by hand and you would resolve=0Athe tri=
vial constant^0 cases.=0A=0AIn the case of the set theory book, do note tha=
t the author is constructing=0Ahis own algebra, and it's natural that he mi=
ght not want indefinite values=0Athat get outside his set: 0^0 and x/0 are =
such cases. The text is not=0Aa demonstration, it is simply a statement tak=
en out of context.=0A=0AI guess looking hard it may be possible to find an =
elaborated case where=0Asomeone=A0manages to shoot himself in the foot but =
ultimately I would=0Awonder. if this author *is* using mathematics correctl=
y. 0^0 is a good indication=0Athat there is something wrong in your calcula=
tion and evidently Excel users=0Ahave come to accept it.=0A=0APedro.=0A=0A*=
Welcome to this list ;).
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