Comment by yorwba
12 hours ago
For x = -i, square(x) = -1, sqrt(square(x)) = i. Meanwhile, abs(x) = 1. You're right that it simplifies to abs(x) for real x, but that no longer holds for arbitrary complex values.
12 hours ago
For x = -i, square(x) = -1, sqrt(square(x)) = i. Meanwhile, abs(x) = 1. You're right that it simplifies to abs(x) for real x, but that no longer holds for arbitrary complex values.
for arbitrary complex values sqrt() gives 2 answers with +- signs
so sqrt(square(-i)) = +-i, one of which is x
I've never seen a CAS that gives two answers for sqrt. Mathematica doesn't, sympy doesn't, and IIRC Maxima also doesn't.
The sqrt function returns the principle square root, not both. That’s true for all numbers, positive, negative, and complex alike.