Is it possible to square root a negitive number?

Answer 1

sqrt(-1) is usually represented by j or i depending on the notation. For instance sqrt(-4) = 2j or 2i

Answer 2

Possibility is in the eye of the beholder. (Actually it's in the splitting field of the beholder).

The complex numbers are an algebraically closed field. So every real number has square roots, but you might have to go into the complex numbers to find them.

So whether it's "possible" depends on whether complex values make sense in the context of whatever problem you're doing.

Answer 3

Yes, the result is an imaginary number involving i = sqrt(-1). While this answer is not considered a real number, it is still a valid answer as it is considered a complex number. Complex numbers are number in the form a + bi where a and b are real numbers.

Answer 4

It can be square rooted but it comes out to be an imaginary number.

Answer 5

Imaginary is a misleading term though; a more accurate term is 'complex.' Complex numbers show up in numerous physical systems that are quite real and easily subjected to mathematical analysis, which makes the term 'imaginary' a bit inaccurate.

Answer 6

Yes, an the result is an imaginary number. But I just want to say that imaginary numbers are very real. A long time ago, many mathematicians, thought they were meaningless or not real.

Answer 7

Not with the Windows calculator "Invalid input for function", but of course a calculator is just a machine, it has no imagination, so one can see why it would have trouble with an imaginary number. But Rafael Bombelli apparently did have an imagination.

Answer 8

the square root of a negative number becomes an imaginary number... so essentially, no.

Answer 9

Yes.

Definition: sqrt(-1) = i

Examples:
sqrt(-2) = sqrt[ (-1)(2) ] = sqrt(-1)*sqrt(2) =i*sqrt(2)

sqrt(-9) = sqrt[ (-1)(9) ] = sqrt(-1)*sqrt(9) = i*3 = 3i

sqrt(-175) = sqrt(-1)*sqrt(25)*sqrt(7) = i*5*sqrt(7) = 5i*sqrt(7)

Answer 10

There is no real number sqrt of a negative radicand (#)