Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Practice Test

What is the outcome when one raises 1 to any power?

1. 0

2. 1

3. Undefined

4. It varies

The correct answer is: 1

When raising 1 to any power, the outcome is consistently 1. This occurs because the base, which is 1, does not change regardless of the exponent applied. Multiplication of 1 by itself any number of times still yields 1, since multiplying by 1 has no effect on the value. Therefore, whether the exponent is positive, negative, or even zero, the result will always remain 1. For example: - \(1^2 = 1 \times 1 = 1\) - \(1^0 = 1\), based on the property that any non-zero number raised to the power of zero equals one. - \(1^{-3} = \frac{1}{1^3} = \frac{1}{1} = 1\) This consistency is fundamental to understanding exponents and illustrates the unique properties of the number 1 in mathematical operations.