Question

Alex and Jose are working on some math problems. Tom said (2^0 = 0) and (5^1 = 1). Evie said (2^0 = 1) and (5^1 = 5). Who is correct? Explain how you know.

a) Tom is correct
b) Evie is correct
c) Both are correct
d) Neither is correct

Answer 1

Tom is incorrect and Evie is correct. Any number raised to the power of 0 is 1 and any number raised to the power of 1 is itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tom is correct. Let's examine the statements made by Tom and Evie one by one:

Tom said (2^0 = 0)

This statement is incorrect. Any number raised to the power of 0 is always equal to 1. So 2^0 = 1.

Tom also said (5^1 = 1)

This statement is correct. Any number raised to the power of 1 is itself. So 5^1 = 5.

Evie said (2^0 = 1) and (5^1 = 5)

Both of Evie's statements are correct. Any number raised to the power of 0 is always equal to 1. So 2^0 = 1. Any number raised to the power of 1 is itself. So 5^1 = 5.

Since Tom made one incorrect statement and Evie made no incorrect statements, the correct answer is Evie is correct.