+0  
 
0
643
10
avatar

(-81)^\frac{1}{4}

 Feb 10, 2017

Best Answer 

 #9
avatar+26388 
+15

Hello Melody,

 

i am not certain,

if      \(z =-i\)

then  \(z^2 = (-i)\cdot(-i) = (-i)^2 = i^2 = -1\)

 

if      \( z^2 = -1 \)

then \(z = \sqrt{-1}= i\), but z can also be -i

                                 this  is not equivalent (<=>)

 

laugh

 Feb 10, 2017
 #1
avatar+37084 
0

81^(1/4)  =  \(\sqrt[4]{81}\) = 3

 Feb 10, 2017
edited by ElectricPavlov  Feb 10, 2017
 #2
avatar+118654 
+10

(-81)^\frac{1}{4}

 

Firstly there is no real solution for this because no real number to the power of 4 is going to be negative.

 

But I will give you the complex solution :)

 

 

\((-81)^\frac{1}{4}\\ =(-1)^\frac{1}{4}*(81)^\frac{1}{4}\\ =(-1)^\frac{1}{4}*3\\ =((-1)^\frac{1}{2})^\frac{1}{2}*3\\ =i^\frac{1}{2}*3\)

 

          Now

          \(\sqrt{i}=\sqrt{\frac{1+2i-1}{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{1+2i+i^2}{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{(1+i)^2}{2}}=\frac{1+i}{\sqrt2}\\ \)

 

\(=3*\sqrt{i}\\ =\frac{3(1+i)}{\sqrt2}\\ =\frac{3\sqrt2 (1+i)}{2}\\\)

 Feb 10, 2017
 #3
avatar+37084 
0

Ooops.....I missed the negative sign !    Thanx, Melody !  

ElectricPavlov  Feb 10, 2017
 #4
avatar+118654 
+5

I forgot to finish it............this is one answer but there are 3 more...

I see Heureka is answering so I expect he will give the other ones.  :)

Thanks in advance Heureka  cool

Melody  Feb 10, 2017
 #6
avatar+26388 
+10

Hello Melody,

 

you set -1 to \(i^2\) but i think this is not allowed, if (-1) is a complex number.

only (-1) real is i^2 and (-1) complex is \(e^{i\pi}\).

 

This way is okay \(i^2 \rightarrow -1\)
This way is not allowed \(-1 \rightarrow i^2\)

 

 

laugh

heureka  Feb 10, 2017
 #7
avatar+118654 
0

Hi Heureka,

 

I certainly accept that your knowledge of mathematics is far superior to mine but I do not get why I cannot do this.

Our answers are the same. 

 

I suppose it is some mathematics nuance that has gone over my head :(

 

But thank you   frown

Melody  Feb 10, 2017
 #9
avatar+26388 
+15
Best Answer

Hello Melody,

 

i am not certain,

if      \(z =-i\)

then  \(z^2 = (-i)\cdot(-i) = (-i)^2 = i^2 = -1\)

 

if      \( z^2 = -1 \)

then \(z = \sqrt{-1}= i\), but z can also be -i

                                 this  is not equivalent (<=>)

 

laugh

heureka  Feb 10, 2017
 #10
avatar+118654 
+11

Oh ok Heureka, I can see what you mean :)

Melody  Feb 10, 2017
 #5
avatar+26388 
+15

(-81)^\frac{1}{4}

 

\(\begin{array}{|rcll|} \hline x&=& \sqrt[4]{-81} \\ &=& (-81)^\frac{1}{4} \\ &=& (81)^\frac{1}{4} \cdot (-1)^\frac{1}{4} \\ &=& 3 \cdot (-1)^\frac{1}{4} \quad & | \quad e^{i\pi} = -1\ ! \quad (\text{Euler's Formula for Complex Numbers}) \\ x_1 &=& 3\cdot (e^{i\pi})^\frac{1}{4} \\ &=& 3\cdot e^{i\frac{\pi}{4}} \\ &=& 3\cdot [\cos(\frac{\pi}{4}) + i\cdot \sin(\frac{\pi}{4})] \quad & | \quad \cos(\frac{\pi}{4})=\sin(\frac{\pi}{4})= \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} \\ &=& 3\cdot (\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}+ i\cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} ) \\ &=& \frac{3 \sqrt{2}}{2}(1+i) \\\\ x_2 &=& 3\cdot e^{i(\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{\pi}{2} )} \\ x_2 &=& 3\cdot e^{\frac{3}{4} i \pi } \\\\ x_3 &=& 3\cdot e^{i(\frac{\pi}{4}+2\cdot\frac{\pi}{2} )} \\ x_3 &=& 3\cdot e^{\frac{5}{4} i \pi } \\\\ x_4 &=& 3\cdot e^{i(\frac{\pi}{4}+3\cdot\frac{\pi}{2} )} \\ x_4 &=& 3\cdot e^{\frac{7}{4} i \pi } \\\\ \hline \end{array} \)

 

laugh

 Feb 10, 2017
 #8
avatar+26388 
+15

Hello Melody,

 

i am not certain,

if z =-i then z2 = -1

 

if z2 = -1 then z = \(\sqrt{-1}\) = i, but z can also be -i

 

laugh

 Feb 10, 2017

1 Online Users