Thread: Mathematics - Factoring Fractional Exponents

  1. #16
    S Sang-drax's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Psychlow
    Personally, I'd think -4 should be listed as an answer on that equation. Last I checked, -4 was part of the real number set.
    -4 is a real number, yes, but you need complex numbers to make x^(-1/2) defined for negative values of x.

    It was arguments like this that introduced the complex numbers. Obviously, the first equation has a root -4, but we cannot insert x=-4 without complex numbers.

    EDIT: The book is still wrong.
    Last edited by Sang-drax : Tomorrow at 02:21 AM. Reason: Time travelling

  2. #17
    essence of digital xddxogm3's Avatar
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    I know I said I would put the proof back in the post, but for all my searching I can not find the proof. I'm glad you all figured it out with out me putting that back in. Thanks again for everybody's input.
    Psychlow - good to see you finally posting on the best forum around.
    Now if you could only get away from writing in VB.
    ;0) hehehehe
    Just Joking. VB has a purpose, I haven't found it yet, but it does.
    "Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence;
    supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
    Art of War Sun Tzu

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