I have read Loius' response, but before I comment further, it would be very helpful to know more details about the reasoning you used to get -1^(1/2) equal to -1. After that, I think I can help you sort out why -1 is incorrect. "
"Aren't taking a number to the 1/2 power and taking the square root of that number the same? " is true but I am not sure how that lead you to -1. Thanks.
I have read Loius' response, but before I comment further, it would be very helpful to know more details about the reasoning you used to get -1^(1/2) equal to -1. After that, I think I can help you sort out why -1 is incorrect. "
"Aren't taking a number to the 1/2 power and taking the square root of that number the same? " is true but I am not sure how that lead you to -1. Thanks.
-1^(1/2) is not equal to sqrt(-1).
When evaluating -1^(1/2), the exponent is only being applied to the 1 and the negative is added later.
When evaluating sqrt(-1), the square root is being applied to -1.
(-1)^(1/2) = sqrt(-1) is a true statement.