It is mentioned in the book that y = a * and y = a - * (that is to say, the x power of a and the - x power of a) their function images can be simplified as an index on the day of y-axis symmetry. Why can't I directly change a - * minus 1 into a * minus 1? The result of my calculation is different from the answer

It is mentioned in the book that y = a * and y = a - * (that is to say, the x power of a and the - x power of a) their function images can be simplified as an index on the day of y-axis symmetry. Why can't I directly change a - * minus 1 into a * minus 1? The result of my calculation is different from the answer

Because the zeroth power of a is equal to 1, so a - * minus 1 is equal to a (- * - 0). The result is still a - *, and a * minus 1 is still a *. So they are not equal. The answer is certainly different