how to simplify ?

Question

How to simplify with zero as an exponent.     (-4)^0-(-4)^1

Answer 1

0⁰ = 1 by definition.

Some supporting arguments are given at:

https://www.math.hmc.edu/funfacts/ffiles/10005.3-5.shtml

Answer 2

Any number (except 0) taken to the 0 power is equal to 1.

 

So (-4)^0 is 1 and (-4)^1 is -4 so the answer is 5 (1 minus a negative 4).  If that's a times it would be -4 (can't tell small print).