Thursday, 28 March 2013

algebra precalculus - Why does $(-n)^{4.4}$ yield a non-real number in WolframAlpha? $n$ stands for any number

One would think that, since $4.4$ as a mixed fraction is ($22/5$), raising a number regardless of it being negative or positive would yield a real number. However, when plugging this equation into WolframAlpha, I keep getting an imaginary number.



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Can someone help me understand? I plug the equation in like so: (-4)^4.4 and still get a nonreal answer. What is going on here?

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