Question

Is the following statement true or false

(a^4)^(1/4)=a for every real number a.

Answer 1

\[\sqrt[4]{a^4}=a\]

Answer 2

What happens if you put in a negative number?

Answer 3

you get a complex solution.

Answer 4

or you get a?... idk

Answer 5

Right about the complex solution, so that means it's not valid for EVERY real number a.

Answer 6

Err, wait, sorry

Answer 7

Yeah I tried it and got a... or the number...

Answer 8

Take a=-1
\[^4\sqrt{(-1)^4}=^4\sqrt{1}=1\]

Answer 9

But 1 does not equal -1.

Answer 10

The fourth root of 1 is 1, because 1^4=1

Answer 11

if 1 is not equal to -1... then a is not equal to a and there is no solution?

Answer 12

Close.
\[a \neq ^4\sqrt{a^4}\] for negative numbers

Answer 13

Okay, Thank you!!!