Where to begin

That's an expression, not an equation. And are you sure this isn't a (very badly formatted) temperature? :)

Anyway, if c = 0, then the answer is undefined.

If c ≠ 0, have you tried putting some numbers in?
 
Do you understand what you are asked to do? You cannot "solve this equation" because. as Cubist said, there is no equation! (The fact that there is no equal sign, "=", is a giveaway!)

You are asked to do the calculation shown. Now, what do you know about a number to the zero power? What does that mean?
 
HallsofIvy said:
Do you understand what you are asked to do? You cannot "solve this equation" because. as Cubist said, there is no equation! (The fact that there is no equal sign, "=", is a giveaway!)

You are asked to do the calculation shown. Now, what do you know about a number to the zero power? What does that mean?
Click to expand...

OP, for now, ignore the minus sign in your post.

Just answer @HallsofIvy's question first, what does x0 mean? What would its value be?

We can discuss the minus sign after you understand this.
 
Actually I have to leave the forum for a while, so I'll comment about the minus now.

The correct order of evaluation (operator precedence) is...

-( (5*c)0 )

Most spreadsheets will evaluate your expression in a different order(see *) and therefore they get a different answer. This can be avoided by using brackets, as above.

* A spreadsheet will evaluate it as ( -(5*c) )0. This problem occurs when the minus is the first thing in an expression (a "unary" minus). Another way to circumvent this problem is to enter 0-(5*c)0 into the cell.
 
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