What Is 0 to the Power of 0? 1 or Undefined?

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The Battle for Zero to the Zero Power: 1, 0, or Pure Mystery?

Ask a classroom of middle schoolers what 0 to the power of 0 equals, and you will likely hear a chorus of confident guesses: 0, 1, or undefined!

Even among professional mathematicians, computer scientists, and textbook authors, this seemingly innocent expression has sparked decades of quiet debate. Depending on the branch of mathematics you are looking at, 0^0 can gracefully evaluate to 1, drop down to 0, or throw up its hands as a strictly indeterminate form.

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