Re: Plotting x^(1/3), etc.
- To: mathgroup at yoda.physics.unc.edu
- Subject: Re: Plotting x^(1/3), etc.
- From: fateman at peoplesparc.berkeley.edu (Richard Fateman)
- Date: Mon, 20 Apr 92 10:50:25 PDT
Kelly's definition is circular. It defines Power in terms of Power. From mathgroup-adm at yoda.physics.unc.edu Fri Apr 17 23:38:02 1992 From: roach at wri.com Subject: Re: Plotting x^(1/3), etc. To: mathgroup at yoda.physics.unc.edu Status: RO The definition of Power that Mathematica uses is x^y == E^(y*Log[x]) where Log is the principle branch of the logarithm. ..... So, what is E^(1/2)? since E = 2.71828 ... is E^(1/2) + or - 1.64872.. ? If the definition is Exp[ ...] where Exp[x] is understood to be defined uniquely by the power series 1+x+..., then that helps a little. I think Kelly's hope that a simple characterization of "^" in Mathematica can be used by all is not consistent with Mathematica's simplification of x^0 and 0^0. If x^0 is 1, then how could a PARTICULAR value of x, namely x=0, change it to Indeterminate? Richard