Disagreement on square root sign

I recently posted a VB question which later developed into a hot argument about mathematic issues. Please go to

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...00#post1352200

and tell me what you think.

The square root of a number a is defined as that value that, when multiplied by itself, produces the number. Since, generally, (+x)*(+x) = (-x)*(-x), it is generally understood that a number has two square roots, the positive and the negative values.

Beyond the above, we're just playing around with mathematics or with semantics, or both.

Quote:

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Originally posted by RAEsquivelC
The square root of a number a is defined as that value that, when multiplied by itself, produces the number. Since, generally, (+x)*(+x) = (-x)*(-x), it is generally understood that a number has two square roots, the positive and the negative values.

Beyond the above, we're just playing around with mathematics or with semantics, or both.

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The function that produces the square root of a number is defined to return the positive value, and the definition of "Square Root", supposidly, also, is a positive number.

BTW

What is i?

:D

Good!
I knew Bugz would straighten you lot out!
:)

Quote:

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BTW

What is i?

:D

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Code:

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i = sqr(-1)
i^2 = i * i  = sqr(-1)*sqr(-1) = -1
i^3 = i^2 * i = -1 * i = -i
i^4 = i^3 * i = -i * i = -i^2 = +1
i^5 = i4 * i = 1 * i = i and so on.......

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