Re: ComplexExpand confusion
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg60141] Re: [mg60109] ComplexExpand confusion
- From: "David Park" <djmp at earthlink.net>
- Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2005 03:02:04 -0400 (EDT)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Mike, The answer is very simple! Just look at... ComplexExpand[(-1)^(1/4)] // Trace Could anything be clearer? David Park djmp at earthlink.net http://home.earthlink.net/~djmp/ From: mike_in_england2000 at yahoo.co.uk To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net [mailto:mike_in_england2000 at yahoo.co.uk] Hi The Mathematica help system says that "ComplexExpand[expr] expands expr assuming that all variables are real." which is fine and explains why expressions such as ComplexExpand[Conjugate[x +I y]] work.All seems obvious so far. What is confusing me though is why does ComplexExpand[(-1)^(1/4)] give the result (1 + I)/Sqrt[2] I know this the correct result but in the expression (-1)^(1/4) there are no variables. The numbers involved are real so what on earth is ComplexExpand doing? Is this a stupid question? Should I have drank more coffee before posting this. Thanks Mike
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