Rationality and power

Abstract

We produce an infinite family of transcendental numbers which, when raised to their own power, become rational. We extend the method, to investigate positive rational solutions to the equation $x^x = \alpha$, where $\alpha$ is a fixed algebraic number. We then explore the consequences of $x^{P(x)}$ being rational, if $x$ is rational and $P(x)$ is a fixed integer polynomial.