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.is_real function

asked 2014-02-13 23:29:11 +0100

jstroud gravatar image

updated 2014-02-16 18:35:38 +0100

tmonteil gravatar image

Why does "sqrt(5).is_real()" come up false when it is obviously not? This seems to happen with any square root.

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There are many problems with this function. - sqrt(5).real_part() -> sqrt(5) - sqrt(5).imag_part() ->0 - sqrt(25).is_real() -> AttributeError: 'sage.rings.integer.Integer' object has no attribute 'is_real' - SR(sqrt(25)).is_real() -> True - SR(sqrt(5)).is_real() -> False - CC(sqrt(5)).is_real -> True

moroplogo gravatar imagemoroplogo ( 2014-02-14 10:25:40 +0100 )edit

I think this is because `sqrt` gives a symbolic thing, which Sage would have to exert possibly significant computational effort to decide whether it is real (think of showing whether an arbitrary expression is zero) and so answers `False` since it can't prove `True`.

kcrisman gravatar imagekcrisman ( 2014-02-14 13:29:56 +0100 )edit
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"sqrt gives a symbolic thing, ..." perhaps , but Sage knows that sqrt(5).imag_part() is 0 then it isn't so difficult to answer True at this question. But I have only notions of programming.

moroplogo gravatar imagemoroplogo ( 2014-02-14 19:46:18 +0100 )edit

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answered 2014-06-29 15:06:19 +0100

vdelecroix gravatar image

updated 2014-06-29 16:55:33 +0100

Hi,

Never believe the symbolic ring as it can answer False when the result is True (hopefully a True is real True). To get the answer to your question, you would better do:

sage: QQbar(5).sqrt() in AA
True

Note: QQbar is the set of algebraic number and AA is the set of real algebraic numbers.

Vincent

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Asked: 2014-02-13 23:29:11 +0100

Seen: 600 times

Last updated: Jun 29 '14