3 ms·
We didn't invent 'i' to "solve sqrt(-1)". This is an extremely common misconception about maths and how it progressed that unfortunately people get led into bel
by AstixAndBelix 3y ago
We didn't invent 'i' to "solve sqrt(-1)". This is an extremely common misconception about maths and how it progressed that unfortunately people get led into believing by lazy teachers every day
- rtpg 3y agoSo what did happen?
- aap_ 3y agoSquare roots of negative numbers came up when solving cubic equations, even if the final solutions were all real. This meant the square root of a negative number was not something nonsensical the way you might claim for x^2 = -1, but actually...real in some sense.
- caf 3y agoSpecifically I believe it involved a geometric construction for solving the cubics, which in some cases could not find a solution unless you allowed a square with "negative area".
- shagie 3y agoThere's a good YouTube video on it that includes an epic math battle. Veritasium - How Imaginary Numbers Were Invented - https://youtu.be/cUzklzVXJwo https://youtu.be/cUzklzVXJwo Solving the cubic was a physical thing back then. https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/convergence/solving-the-cubic-with-cardano-depressing-the-cubic https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/convergence/solving-th...