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Square roots of negative numbers came up when solving cubic equations, even if the final solutions were all real. This meant the square root of a negative numbe
by aap_ 4y ago
Square roots of negative numbers came up when solving cubic equations, even if the final solutions were all real. This meant the square root of a negative number was not something nonsensical the way you might claim for x^2 = -1, but actually...real in some sense.
- caf 4y agoSpecifically I believe it involved a geometric construction for solving the cubics, which in some cases could not find a solution unless you allowed a square with "negative area".