Subject: Is Dr. Math wrong? (Re: [Maxima] 0^0 question)
From: Martin RUBEY
Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 19:01:53 +0200 (CEST)
> that it shouldn't. I've seen several mentions along the lines of
> For certain f(x), lim_{x -> 0} f(x) doesn't exist, so
> f(0) shouldn't exist
> which I don't really buy.
> The Dr. Math article mentioned discusses it, and ends with
> Consensus has recently been built around setting the
> value of 0^0 = 1 .
> That's how I've always understood it, also. Is Dr. Math wrong?
In "everyday maths" yes, because you can check it. You can't check what
maxima is doing internally. And I think it's better to stay on the safe
side here... (in fact I'm sure you will produce obscure bugs when you
silently set 0^0 = 1 in limit, taylor, sum, maybe integrate, ...)
Martin