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Is $-1$ a perfect square?

We know that $i^2 = -1$. Does that mean $-1$ is a perfect square because $i$ is not an irrational or decimal number?

Travis
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    In the ring of Gaussian integers $\mathbf Z[i]$, yes. – Bernard Jan 22 '17 at 21:52
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    What is your definition of perfect square? The usual definition says it's the square of an integer. – Crostul Jan 22 '17 at 21:53
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    Normally, we call a number a perfect square if it is the square of an integer. And with integer here we mean rational integer, i.e., no complex numbers allowed – Hagen von Eitzen Jan 22 '17 at 21:53
  • @Crostul, I'm more asking if it is a perfect square using general terms, so whatever the generally accepted definition of a perfect square is. – Travis Jan 22 '17 at 21:54
  • It is a perfect square but not a square number.

    For it to be a square number, $i$ would have to be an integer.

     – MathematicianByMistake Jan 22 '17 at 21:54
  • What do you mean by "decimal number"? This is not a term used by mathematicians, at least not in a way that makes sense here. – TonyK Jan 22 '17 at 22:02
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    Every complex number is the square of some complex number, so a small modification would lead to "all complex numbers are perfect squares". In this case, the name "perfect square" will not make sense anymore. But if we restrict to $\mathbb Z[i]$, a definition would make some sense because not every number will be a square of some other number. – Peter Jan 22 '17 at 22:02

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The term perfect square is typically reserved for squares of integers, unless further context is specified, so in the regular usage of the term, $-1$ is not a perfect square.

More generally, you might want to refer to perfect squares in a ring (especially the ring of integers of an algebraic number field)—in such a context, we might say that $-1$ is a perfect square, but with reference to the ring. For example, $-1$ is a perfect square in $\mathbb{Z}[i]$, but is not a perfect square in $\mathbb{Z}$.

This situation is similar to how $i$ is not an irrational number—the term irrational number refers to real numbers which are not rational, not just any old mathematical entity which is not a rational number.

Will R
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Clive Newstead
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  • @BillDubuque, your link is to an ebay listing! Also, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrational_number seems to agree with Clive's convention here that irrational numbers are necessarily real, so that $i$ is, by that convention, not irrational. – Barry Cipra Jan 23 '17 at 18:00
  • Your last sentence is inaccurate - see Is $i$ irrational? @Barry see the linked thread (link now fixed). The point is that the definition / convention depends on the context (just as for squares). – Bill Dubuque Jan 23 '17 at 18:03
  • @BillDubuque, thanks for fixing the link. It's a nice answer there. I'm a little surprised the wikipedia entry doesn't make any mention of the alternative convention. – Barry Cipra Jan 23 '17 at 18:12