Square of an irrational number can be a rational number e.g. √2 is irrational but its square is 2 which is rational.
But is there a irrational number square root of which is a rational number?
Is it safe to assume, in general, that nth-root of irrational will always give irrational numbers?
Answer
Obviously, if p is rational, then p2 must also be rational (trivial to prove).
p∈Q⇒p2∈Q.
Take the contraposition, we see that if x is irrational, then √x must also be irrational.
p2∉Q⇒p∉Q.
By negative power I assume you mean (1/n)-th power (it is obvious that (√2)−2=12∈Q). It is true by the statement above — just replace 2 by n.
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