Why is (-1)^1.2 not defined?

[Bindie]

Hey, little math problem as mentioned.

[s-ol]

Hey, little math problem as mentioned.

Because it is defined as the 6th root of -1, to the power of 5 (1.2 = 6/5). The root of negative numbers is not defined in general math.

[Bindie]

Of course. There is no root of (-1), complex numbers. I didn't see 1.2 as a rational number. Like a (a/b) number.

[Muris]

I would guess at least some math libraries would define it something as:
{ re = cos 1.2pi, im = sin 1.2pi }

and if not, you can probably define it yourself.

[Bindie]

It's not that important, ^2 was too high so I figured I'd use ^1.2, however it didn't work with negative numbers and now I know why. Of course 1.2 is a a/b kind of numeral, and as S0lll0s said, more or less a root of a number.

[Ranguna259]

Actualy there are roots for negative numbers but the index has to be odd:
Even index:

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(-1)^(1/2) = 2root-1 = i (or error)

Same goes for 4root, 6root, 8root, (2*x)root where x is a natural number

Odd index:

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(-1)^(1/3) = 3root-1 = -1

Same goes for 1root, 5root, 7root, (3*x)root where x is a natural number or 1/3

[zorg]

Actualy there are roots for negative numbers but the index has to be odd:
...

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(-1)^(1/3) = 3root-1 = -1

Except lua still won't calculate that with the default lib routines; it gives -nan in the online interpreter.