Search All of the Math Forum:

Views expressed in these public forums are not endorsed by Drexel University or The Math Forum.

Topic: [HM] Principal square root
Replies: 5   Last Post: Oct 18, 2005 10:02 PM

 Messages: [ Previous | Next ]
 Staffan Rodhe Posts: 57 Registered: 12/3/04
[HM] Principal square root
Posted: Aug 28, 2005 5:33 PM

Dear all,

For me it is natural to say that the square root of a non-negative real
number is non-negative. That is the common way to define "square root"
in Sweden. In basic American text-books I have noticed that the square
root might be defined as both positive or negative followed by a
definition of the non-negative root as the "principal" square root. I
am interested to know more about how you from all over the world define
the word "square root".

I suppose that all of you define the symbolic expression Va (I mean
\sqrt a) as a non-negative number. But I am not sure. In one of the
books I studied I found V9=3D+/-3. For me that is wrong and I would give
the student a square root sign (error symbol) in the margin.

Best greetings from peaceful Skebobruk

Staffan Rodhe

Date Subject Author
8/28/05 Staffan Rodhe
9/1/05 Don Cook
10/18/05 Staffan Rodhe
10/18/05 Patricia Cretchley
10/18/05 John Harper
10/18/05 Jeff Miller