Square root definition does not allow a negative number as an input. Only positives and zero. Although it is possible to expand the definition to negative numbers, complex numbers, matrices… So unless you followed a course where you thoroughly defined your expansion of sqrt, it only applies to real, positives number and zero. Its the thing with math, you have to define what you work with.
Comment on nooo my genderinos
rudyharrelson@lemmy.radio 17 hours agoWolfram tells me sqrt(-1) = i
and it hasn’t lied to me yet.
In what meaningful way is i^2 = -1
different from sqrt(-1) = i
?
m8052@lemmy.world 16 hours ago
rudyharrelson@lemmy.radio 16 hours ago
Sounds to me like this is exactly what the OP meme is referencing.
Basic math: square root only of positive numbers and 0. Advanced math: square root of anything you want
m8052@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
You’re missing the point. Math (especially advanced) is about precision and rigor. Writing sqrt of something negative is ambiguous. There are better ways of writing it as explained here lemmy.world/comment/18924227
squaresinger@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
Except that yes, math is about precision and rigor, and yes, the square root of negative numbers is totally allowed (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_root#Square_roots_of…) and yes, math totally allows for statements with multiple solutions.
sin(x) = 0
also has infinite solutions and yet it’s totally legal for x to make an equation like that.
LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 15 hours ago
So what’s the square root of your mom then?
rudyharrelson@lemmy.radio 14 hours ago
Damn, hoisted by my own petard.
TwilightKiddy@programming.dev 16 hours ago
I’m very sorry you had to go through such stupid school tests, welcome to the real world.
sqrt(x)
is just a shorthand forx^(1/2)
.
lvxferre@mander.xyz 16 hours ago
sqrt(-1) = ±i. The negative answer is also valid.
excral@feddit.org 4 hours ago
This is technically incorrect. While the square root is both the positive and the negative solution, the sqrt (√) operator results in the principal square root. For nonnegative numbers this is the nonnegative square root and more generalised for complex numbers it’s the square root that halves the complex phase.
rudyharrelson@lemmy.radio 15 hours ago
Ah, good point; I’d forgotten that part.