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Re: Real numerical computations

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg71736] Re: Real numerical computations
• From: Jean-Marc Gulliet <jeanmarc.gulliet at gmail.com>
• Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 06:03:41 -0500 (EST)
• Organization: The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
• References: <ekeb6t$t42$1@smc.vnet.net>

José Carlos Santos wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> With Mathematica, if I type
> 
> N[(-1.)^(1/3)]
> 
> I get
> 
> 0.5 + 0.866025 i
> 
> This is correct, of course, but I would like to get -1. instead. How do
> I tell Mathematica that I want a real result (if there is one)?
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Jose Carlos Santos
> 
Have a look at the technical FAQ titled "How do I get x^(1/3) (where x 
is a negative number) to evaluate to a real number?"

http://support.wolfram.com/mathematica/mathematics/algebra/realpower.html

Best regards,
Jean-Marc