The set of third roots of $-8$, and the set of fourth roots of $-i$. What does this mean?

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Calculate the sets of

(a) the third roots of $-8$, and (b) the fourth roots of $-i$.

The problem is we did not get any definition we can rely on, no number sets given, just the text above, but I think we should do it for the real numbers. How would you do that, on which definition would you rely on? We did nothing regarding roots.

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If your third roots of $-8$ is $re^{i\theta } $, then $$r^3 e^{3i\theta} = -8 = 8 e^{i\pi}$$

You need to solve for r and all possible solutions of $\theta$ which give you three distinct roots of $-8$

Similarly for the fourth roots of $-i$, you want $$r^4 e^{4i\theta}= -i = e^{3i\pi/2}$$