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Name: prairie view
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1995
Question:
For what are complex numbers (i) used?

Replies:
Like most of mathematics, complex numbers were defined to provide represent- ed prior to before. For example, without defining irrational square roots, we would not have a way to represent the solution to the equation, x^-2 = 0. Imaginary number, i, helps us represent a solution for x^2 + 1 = 0. Eventu- ally, a logical way was found to connect define an algebraic system for complex numbers and to connect them to the geometry and trigonometry of angles.

My engineering students cannot get very far into the study of electric circuits, etc., without understanding how complex numbers are applied there. Complex numbers also are related to topics in advanced calculus and so have related applications tied to calculus.

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