I was thinking about finding the domain of multivariable function below,
$$f(x,y)=(-1)^{x+y}$$
But I am not sure what approach I should take to find answer to such questions. How should find the domain of such function?
I was thinking about finding the domain of multivariable function below,
$$f(x,y)=(-1)^{x+y}$$
But I am not sure what approach I should take to find answer to such questions. How should find the domain of such function?
This depends on whether you are working in $\mathbb R$ or $\mathbb C$.
In $\mathbb R$, one notes that for integer $n$,
$$(-1)^{2n+1} = -1 \implies -1=(-1)^{1/(2n+1)}$$
and further, for integer $m$,
$$(-1)^m = \boxed{(-1)^{m/(2n+1)}} = -1\text{ or }+1$$
We cannot generalize the exponent to be all of rational numbers, since $(-1)^{1/(2n)}$ is not real.
In $\mathbb C$:
$$(-1)^a := e^{a\log(-1)} = e^{a(i\pi+2\pi i n)}$$
for integer $n$. This is defined for all $a\in \mathbb C$.