Math (Algebra) Question

Okay, I'm no math genius... more like a fucking math retard, but can someone explain this to me?

Ok, why is the degree of a variable with no exponent 1, and the degree of an actual number is 0?

I understand that they have to be those degrees to correctly multiply/divide polynomials, but how exactly did they prove that x = x^1 and 2 = 2^0 (Or any number for that matter...) And any number, to the power of 0 --

-- Ahh, while typing this I think I figured it out. Well, part of it anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong:

Numbers aren't to the power of 0, they have a null power, any number to the power of 0 is 1...

Ok then does Degree = Exponent = Power ?

When stating a degree of a term in a polynomial, if it's a number and it has a degree of 0, it doesn't mean it's to the power of 0, it just means it has no degree?



Wow holy fucking confusing post. My bad guys