2002 Math OSP, Number 1

Algebra Level pending

Suppose $A=\quad { (-1) }^{ -1 },\quad B=\quad { (-1) }^{ 1 },\quad C=\quad { 1 }^{ -1 }$ What is the value of A + B + C?

1 solution

Jolon Behrent
Jul 13, 2016

$( -1)^{-1}, (-1)^1$ , and $1^{-1}$ are the three values in this question.

A: $(-1)^{-1}$ can be written as $\frac {1}{-1}$ which is equivalent to $-1$ .

B: $(-1)^1$ is the same as $-1$ because powers of one don't change anything.

C: $1^{-1}$ can be written as $\frac {1}{1}$ which is just the same as $1$ .

Adding these three values together gives $-1 + -1 + 1 = -1$