Please post the exact wording of the question.
Please do not try to interpret the meaning.
The fact is: the expression −4 has no meaning in mathematics.
Many minimally prepared mathematics teachers will say the well of course that is wrong, that −4=2i.
But a mathematician, particularly an analyst, would accept that notation.
So I would be surprise if you were such a problem.
It is entirely proper to ask about the square root of –4!
In the complex field the answer is 2i and –2i, because i<SUP>2</SUP>=-1.
The point is if a<0 we do not allow the notation a in current mathematics usage.
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