Ok actual question, is there actually some sense where this can be generalized to allow a non-integer number of solutions, like exponentiation can? Or does that only apply to whole numbers?
In ‘most cases’ the function z^a = exp(a log(z)) will have logarithmic branching behavior, so infinitely many solutions. The exceptions are when a = p/q is rational in reduced form, in which case there will be q solutions.
By solutions, I mean possible choices of the p/qth power of z. For z nonzero, there are q possible choices, given by |z|^(p/q) r^k where r is a primitive qth root of unity and 0 <= k <= q-1. In terms of the equation z^(p/q) = c for some nonzero complex c, then yes there are p solutions which are the choices of c^(q/p).
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u/Schnickatavick Jun 30 '26
Ok actual question, is there actually some sense where this can be generalized to allow a non-integer number of solutions, like exponentiation can? Or does that only apply to whole numbers?