# Surd

Surd[x,n]

gives the real-valued root of x.

# Details

• Surd[x,n] returns the real-valued root of real-valued x for odd n.
• Surd[x,n] returns the principal root for non-negative real-valued x and even n.
• For symbolic x in Surd[x,n], x is assumed to be real valued.
• Surd can be evaluated to arbitrary numerical precision.
• Surd automatically threads over lists.
• In StandardForm, Surd[x,n] formats as .
• can be entered as surd, and moves between the fields.

# Examples

open allclose all

## Basic Examples(5)

Surd gives a real-valued root:

Plot over a subset of the reals:

Enter using surd, then use :

Note that this is not the same as , which is Power[x,1/3]:

Compare the real and imaginary parts of and over the reals:

Series expansion:

## Scope(24)

### Numerical Evaluation(4)

Evaluate numerically:

Evaluate to high precision:

The precision of the output tracks the precision of the input:

Evaluate efficiently at high precision:

Surd threads elementwise over lists and matrices:

### Specific Values(4)

Values at fixed points:

Evaluate symbolically:

Values at infinity:

Find a value of x for which ()=1.5:

Substitute in the result:

Visualize the result:

### Visualization(4)

Plot the Surd function for various orders:

Visualize the absolute value and argument (sign) of for odd n:

The function has the same absolute value but a different argument for :

Compare the real and imaginary parts of and for even n:

Polar plot with :

### Function Properties(2)

Surd[x,n] is defined for all real x when n is a positive, odd integer:

For positive, even n, it is defined for non-negative x:

For negative n, 0 is removed from the domain:

Surd is not defined for nonreal complex values:

Surd[x,n] is achieves all non-negative real values when n is a positive, odd integer:

For positive even n, its range is the whole real line:

For negative n, 0 is removed from the range:

### Differentiation(3)

The first derivative with respect to x:

Higher derivatives with respect to x:

Plot the higher derivatives with respect to x:

Formula for the derivative with respect to x:

### Integration(3)

Compute the indefinite integral using Integrate:

Verify the anti-derivative:

Definite integral:

More integrals:

### Series Expansions(4)

Find the Taylor expansion using Series:

Plots of the first three approximations around :

General term in the series expansion using SeriesCoefficient:

The first-order Fourier series:

The Taylor expansion at a generic point:

## Possible Issues(1)

On the negative real axis, Surd[x,n] is undefined for even n:

On the negative real axis, Surd[x,n] is different from the principal root returned by Power[x,1/n]:

## Neat Examples(1)

Plot a composition of Surd:

Wolfram Research (2012), Surd, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html.

#### Text

Wolfram Research (2012), Surd, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html.

#### BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2020_surd, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Surd}", year="2012", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html}", note=[Accessed: 03-December-2020 ]}

#### BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2020_surd, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Surd}, year={2012}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html}, note=[Accessed: 03-December-2020 ]}

#### CMS

Wolfram Language. 2012. "Surd." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html.

#### APA

Wolfram Language. (2012). Surd. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Surd.html