Positive and negative numbers under the root sign

Definition: The nth root of a is the number which raised to power n yields a. There is no reason, why this definition should not be extended to positive and negative values of a:

		then		(-2)³ = -8
		"		(+2)² = 4 and (-2)² = 4
		"		(-2)5 = -32
		"		(2)4 = 16 and (-2)4 = 16
		the square of no	number	known to us now yields -4

There arises now the question whether should be admitted, omitted or be given a new meaning. We will discuss this later on and state only that in the determination of a root of a relative number two, one or no value can occur.

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