Identity true in the reals, not in complex?

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Identities that hold true for all real numbers but fail for complex numbers include the equation √(ab) = √a√b, which is valid only when a and b are positive. Additionally, the real part of a complex number, Re(x), can be zero, but this does not apply to complex numbers like x^2 = -1. Inequalities are not applicable in the complex field, while equalities are, leading to different interpretations of relationships between numbers. The law of trichotomy, which states that for any two numbers x and y, one of x < y, x = y, or x > y must hold, does not extend to complex numbers. Overall, the discussion highlights the distinctions between real and complex number identities and their implications in mathematical analysis.
Char. Limit
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Are there any identities that are true for all real numbers, but not for all complex numbers? The only one I can think of is...

\sqrt{ab}=\sqrt{a}\sqrt{b}

Which is only true if a and b are POSITIVE, not real. But is there any identity that works for all real numbers, but fails for complex numbers?
 
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The most obvious is Re(x) = 0.
 
x^2\neq-1
 
Hurkyl said:
The most obvious is Re(x) = 0.
And, of course, by Re I mean Im.
 
Pretty much all the formulas concerning multivalued functions must be treated with caution.
 
For all x,y x<y or x=y or x>y
 
Bill Simpson said:
For all x,y x<y or x=y or x>y

Inequalities aren't allowed in the complex field, but equalities are.
 
|x| != |y| => x = -y
 
the law of trichotomy :-p
 
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I don't know that it's the same thing as the OP asks but cauchy's integral formula is something else that's different. the value of a real function doesn't have anything to do with the value of its derivative but with complex functions it does.
 

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