Dimensional representation of Roots

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the dimensional representation of roots of complex numbers, specifically questioning whether the number of coordinate axes in the complex plane corresponds to the degree of the root (e.g., two for square roots, three for cubic roots, etc.). The scope includes conceptual exploration and technical clarification regarding complex numbers and their roots.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if the square root has two coordinate axes in the complex plane, then the cubic root should have three coordinate axes, and this pattern should continue for nth roots.
  • Others argue that a complex number is a single entity, and its representation in the form of ##x + iy## is due to the two-dimensional nature of the complex numbers as a real vector space, independent of the roots taken.
  • A later reply challenges the initial extrapolation by stating that while a complex number has two square roots, three cube roots, and so forth, this does not imply a corresponding increase in coordinate axes.
  • One participant provides examples of cube roots of the complex number -1 + 0i, illustrating the roots in both Cartesian and polar forms, but does not resolve the dimensionality question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether the number of coordinate axes corresponds to the degree of the root. Multiple competing views remain regarding the interpretation of roots and their representation in the complex plane.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the relationship between the dimensional representation of complex numbers and their roots, with unresolved assumptions about the nature of dimensionality in this context.

Leo Authersh
If the square root as two coordinate axes in the complex plane, does the cubic root has 3 coordinate axes and so on for nth root?

@vanhees71 Can you please explain this?
 
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A complex number has real and imaginary part, which you can intepret as cartesian coordinates of vectors in a plane. I don't understand what you mean by "the square root has 2 coordinates".
 
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Leo Authersh said:
If the square root as two coordinate axes in the complex plane, does the cubic root has 3 coordinate axes and so on for nth root?

@vanhees71 Can you please explain this?
No. One complex number is simply one complex number. The fact that complex numbers can be written as ##x+iy## with real ##x,y## is due to the fact, that ##\mathbb{C}## is a two-dimensional real vector space and ##\{1,i\}## a basis.
All complex numbers can be written in this way, no matter how often or which root you take.
 
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Leo Authersh said:
If the square root as two coordinate axes in the complex plane, does the cubic root has 3 coordinate axes and so on for nth root?
You are extrapolating with a sample size that is too small. A given complex number has two square roots, three cube roots, four fourth roots, and so on. Each of these roots can be expressed in the form x + iy in Cartesian form (also called rectangular form).

For example, the complex number -1 + 0i has these cube roots: ##\frac{\sqrt 3} 2 + \frac 1 2 i, -1 + 0i##, and ## \frac{\sqrt 3}2 - i\frac 1 2##. In polar form, these are ##e^{i\pi/3}, e^{i\pi}##, and ##e^{i 5\pi/3}##.
 
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