principal root
English
Noun
principal root (plural principal roots)
- (mathematics) A real number, preferably a nonnegative one if such a root exists, which when raised to the power of n is equal to the radicand of its nth degree radical.
- The square roots of 4 are 2 and -2, the principal square root of 4 is 2.
- The real 4th roots of 16 are 2 and -2, the principal 4th root of 16 is 2.
- The real cube root of -27, also its principal cube root, is -3.
Usage notes
Unless specified otherwise, the principal root is often implied when talking about roots.
Translations
number
|
|
See also
- principal square root
- absolute value
- root
- √