SOLUTION: What is the index of a radical? When workjing with radicals can the radicand be negative when the index is odd? Can it be negative when the index is even?

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Question 473120: What is the index of a radical? When workjing with radicals can the radicand be negative when the index is odd? Can it be negative when the index is even?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What is the index of a radical? When working with radicals can the radicand be negative when the index is odd? Can it be negative when the index is even?
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The index is the root number:
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The radicand can be negative:
If the index is odd and the radicand is negative the root is negative.
Example: cbrt(-27) = -3
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If the root is even and the radicand is negative the root is complex.
Example: sqrt(-27) = 3sqrt(3)i
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Cheers,
Stan H.