Question

What rule am I breaking to make this obviously false statement true?
-1=(-1)^1=(-1)^(1/1)=(-1)^(2/2)=((-1)^2)^(1/2)=(1)^(1/2)=1

Answer 1

The last term has the root of -1 as well, you chose to ignore it.

Answer 2

Whenever you square a number the results are positive regardless of it's sign. You lost the track of your sign when you squared it -1 times -1 is 1

Answer 3

I don't believe you broke any rules, you just lost track of the sign.

Answer 4

Very interesting, I never looked at it this way tbh. Thanks, I've been looking for an answer to that for years!