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Math Forum » Discussions » sci.math.* » sci.math.independent

Topic: What's the geometry meaning of i^i ?
Replies: 16   Last Post: Jul 29, 2012 2:34 PM

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Ki Song

Posts: 221
Registered: 9/19/09
Re: What's the geometry meaning of i^i ?
Posted: Jul 27, 2012 2:25 PM
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On Friday, July 27, 2012 11:19:26 AM UTC-4, Ken S. Tucker wrote:
> Butch Malahide wrote:
>
> > On Jul 27, 12:22 am, "Ken S. Tucker" <dynam...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Unit length is one solution. (i^i)^4 =1 , 1^(1/4)=1.
>
> >
>
> > What did you mean by "(i^i)^4 =1"? Must be a typo, but a typo for
>
> > what??
>
>
>
> If memory serves,
>
> (i^i)^2 = i^2i= (-1)^i , (-1)^2i = 1^i = 1 = (i^i)^4 .

The rules of exponent do not expend to exponentiation by complex numbers.

>
>
>
> I assume 1^(anything) = 1.

This is not true when the exponent is not a real number.

>
>
>
> Now 1^(1/4) = i^i = 1.
>
>
>
> Hows that?

I think you need to think about what it means to "exponentiate." It's not such an obvious thing.

>
> Ken

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