5^0 + 6^0 + 7^0 + 8^0 + 9^0 + 10^0 + 11^0 + 12^0 = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 12 - 5 + 1 = 8
(Notice that there are 8 1's!)
The caret (^) is the symbol of exponentiation. Raising a non-zero number to the power of zero(0) always gives you 1.
(-20)^0 + (-19)^0 + ... + (-9)^0 = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1= |(-20) - (-9)| + 1 = 12
(Notice that there are 12 1's!)
Parentheses were put around the negative numbers to prevent some confusion. (-20) - (-9) = -11, but |(-20) - (-9)| = +11; adding +1 to -11 gives you -10, but adding +1 to +11 gives you +12. The vertical line symbols represent absolute value, which is always positive. The function of absolute value makes subtraction commutative! Subtraction without absolute value is not commutative.
Back to Index Page Back to Math Trick Menu
© Derek Cumberbatch