Root (operation)

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The $n$th root of a number $x$, denoted by $\sqrt[n]{x}$, is a common operation on numbers and a partial inverse to exponentiation. (The proper inverse is the logarithm)

Definition

For any (not necessarily real) numbers $x,y,n$, $y=\sqrt[n]{x}$ if $y^n-x$. Note that we generally take only the positive value of $y$, if we wish to take both the positive and negative roots, we write $\pm\sqrt[n]{x}$.

See Also