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Square root. Notation for the (principal) square root of x. For example, √ 25 = 5, since 25 = 5 ⋅ 5, or 52 (5 squared). In mathematics, a square root of a number x is a number y such that ; in other words, a number y whose square (the result of multiplying the number by itself, or ) is x. [ 1] For example, 4 and −4 are square roots of 16 ...
Negative refraction. Negative refraction is the electromagnetic phenomenon where light rays become refracted at an interface that is opposite to their more commonly observed positive refractive properties. Negative refraction can be obtained by using a metamaterial which has been designed to achieve a negative value for (electric) permittivity ...
root of unity. An imaginary number is the product of a real number and the imaginary unit i, [ note 1] which is defined by its property i2 = −1. [ 1][ 2] The square of an imaginary number bi is −b2. For example, 5i is an imaginary number, and its square is −25. The number zero is considered to be both real and imaginary.
Square roots of negative numbers are called imaginary because in early-modern mathematics, only what are now called real numbers, obtainable by physical measurements or basic arithmetic, were considered to be numbers at all – even negative numbers were treated with skepticism – so the square root of a negative number was previously considered undefined or nonsensical.
The square root of 3 is the positive real number that, when multiplied by itself, gives the number 3. It is denoted mathematically as 3 {\textstyle {\sqrt {3}}} or 3 1 / 2 {\displaystyle 3^{1/2}} . It is more precisely called the principal square root of 3 to distinguish it from the negative number with the same property.
In mathematics, the complex plane is the plane formed by the complex numbers, with a Cartesian coordinate system such that the horizontal x -axis, called the real axis, is formed by the real numbers, and the vertical y -axis, called the imaginary axis, is formed by the imaginary numbers . The complex plane allows for a geometric interpretation ...
The square root of 2 (approximately 1.4142) is a real number that, when multiplied by itself or squared, equals the number 2. It may be written in mathematics as or . It is an algebraic number, and therefore not a transcendental number.
Cubic equation. Graph of a cubic function with 3 real roots (where the curve crosses the horizontal axis at y = 0 ). The case shown has two critical points. Here the function is and therefore the three real roots are 2, -1 and -4. In algebra, a cubic equation in one variable is an equation of the form in which a is not zero.