Function: sqrtn
Section: transcendental
C-Name: gsqrtn
Prototype: GGD&p
Help: sqrtn(x,n,{&z}): nth-root of x, n must be integer. If present, z is
set to a suitable root of unity to recover all solutions. If it was not
possible, z is set to zero.
Doc: principal branch of the $n$th root of $x$,
i.e.~such that $\text{Arg}(\text{sqrtn}(x))\in{} ]-\pi/n, \pi/n]$. Intmod
a prime and $p$-adics are allowed as arguments.
If $z$ is present, it is set to a suitable root of unity allowing to
recover all the other roots. If it was not possible, z is
set to zero. In the case this argument is present and no $n$th root exist,
$0$ is returned instead of raising an error.
\bprog
? sqrtn(Mod(2,7), 2)
%1 = Mod(3, 7)
? sqrtn(Mod(2,7), 2, &z); z
%2 = Mod(6, 7)
? sqrtn(Mod(2,7), 3)
*** at top-level: sqrtn(Mod(2,7),3)
*** ^-----------------
*** sqrtn: nth-root does not exist in gsqrtn.
? sqrtn(Mod(2,7), 3, &z)
%2 = 0
? z
%3 = 0
@eprog
The following script computes all roots in all possible cases:
\bprog
sqrtnall(x,n)=
{ my(V,r,z,r2);
r = sqrtn(x,n, &z);
if (!z, error("Impossible case in sqrtn"));
if (type(x) == "t_INTMOD" || type(x)=="t_PADIC",
r2 = r*z; n = 1;
while (r2!=r, r2*=z;n++));
V = vector(n); V[1] = r;
for(i=2, n, V[i] = V[i-1]*z);
V
}
addhelp(sqrtnall,"sqrtnall(x,n):compute the vector of nth-roots of x");
@eprog\noindent
Variant: If $x$ is a \typ{PADIC}, the function
\fun{GEN}{Qp_sqrtn}{GEN x, GEN n, GEN *z} is also available.