Dismiss Notice
Join Physics Forums Today!
The friendliest, high quality science and math community on the planet! Everyone who loves science is here!

Whats the best way to show this?

  1. Nov 13, 2011 #1

    rollcast

    User Avatar

    I need to take the 1.16 root of x, do I show it as;

    a) [itex]\sqrt[1.16]{x}[/itex]

    OR

    b) [itex]x^{\frac{1}{1.16}}[/itex]


    Thanks
    AL
     
    rollcast, Nov 13, 2011
  2. jcsd
    Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories on Phys.org
  3. Nov 13, 2011 #2

    gordonj005

    User Avatar

    they're both exactly the same, but I would say b) is easier to work with and gets your point across more clearly.
     
    gordonj005, Nov 13, 2011
  4. Nov 13, 2011 #3

    I like Serena

    User Avatar
    Homework Helper

    I like (a), but that's only because I almost never see it, and I didn't know how to do it in latex until just now.
     
    I like Serena, Nov 13, 2011
  5. Nov 13, 2011 #4

    dextercioby

    User Avatar
    Science Advisor
    Homework Helper
    Insights Author

    To use a calculator for a certain value of x, 1. leads to 2., so use 2. without worrying about root symbols.
     
    dextercioby, Nov 13, 2011
  6. Nov 13, 2011 #5

    gsal

    User Avatar

    yeah, I vote for b), too. More general and lends itself for easy inclusion into equations, polynomials, etc.
     
    gsal, Nov 13, 2011
Share this great discussion with others via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook