4 ms·
I'm sure the author acknowledges the importance of complex numbers - the part where he says "don't bother..." is why is i^2 = -1, which makes sense, as i(or j)
by yati 13y ago
I'm sure the author acknowledges the importance of complex numbers - the part where he says "don't bother..." is why is i^2 = -1, which makes sense, as i(or j) was indeed chosen to represent sqrt(-1) and not the other way round(no one "discovered" a magical number that, when squared, gives -1) :)
- thearn4 13y agoYeah, I actually really do like the rest of it. It's just the part: "Don’t try to actually understand this term as there is no logical reason why it exists. We just have to accept that is just something that squares to -1." that rubbed me the wrong way. But in terms of the goal of this guide, I suppose waving hands and saying "deal with it" could be chalked up to a necessary evil.
- jakobsen 13y agoBut isn't the definition of the imaginary unit axiomatic? If so it's indeed true that there is no logical reason why it exists other than it being useful.