sqrt(-4) = (-4)^(1/2) = ((-4)^(2))^(1/4) = sqrt((-4)^(2),4) = sqrt(16,4) = 2. Where is mistake?
You have made use of the relation xa*b = (xa)b. But this has a limited range of applicability. In particular it doesn't apply when x is negative and b is a fraction. If you insist on applying it outside of its range of applicability you will get inconsistent mathematics (as your example illustrates!).
sqrt(-4) = (-4)^(1/2) = ((-4)^(2))^(1/4) = sqrt((-4)^(2),4) = sqrt(16,4) = 2. Where is mistake?
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Note that √(-4) = √(4)*√(-1) =2√(-1)
And by definition, √(-1) = √(i2) = i
So, √(-4) = 2i ≠ 2
You have made use of the relation xa*b = (xa)b. But this has a limited range of applicability. In particular it doesn't apply when x is negative and b is a fraction. If you insist on applying it outside of its range of applicability you will get inconsistent mathematics (as your example illustrates!).
The mistake lies partly in writing 1/2 as 2/4. Squaring an expression often results in the creation of spurious answers, as for example, x=2, x^2=4, x=sqrt(4), x=2 or x=-2.
As to the actual question, to discuss it you have to involve complex numbers.
(−4)1/2=(4∠(180+360k))1/2=2∠(90+180k),k=0,1.
That gets you 2 values for the square root of -4,
2∠90=2i or 2∠270=−2i.
Now look at the final result as given, sqrt(16,4), which I take to mean the fourth root of 16.
161/4=(16∠(0+360k))1/4=2∠90k,k=0,1,2,3.
That produces 4 'answers',
2∠0=2,2∠90=2i,2∠180=−2 and 2∠270=−2i,
that is, the two correct values plus two spurious ones.
The second mistake is that of choosing one of the spurious answers as the answer !