- #1
CE Trainee
- 14
- 0
Homework Statement
I came across this expression in homework and for the life of me I can't figure out how this evaluates to 0: 1 - ( -i )^-4 = 1 - 1 = 0
I know that i^1 = i, i^2 = -1, i^3 = -i, and i^4 = 1. I'm just not sure how to treat the negative on the i. Do I just treat i as if it were just a regular number, i.e. (-1)^4 = 1?
Or can I just say ( -i )*( -i )*( -i )*( -i ) = 1? Can anyone shed some light on this. I know it has to be painfully simple but for some reason I just can't see it.
Thanks