What are complex numbers and their practical applications?
In: Mathematics
Think of them as 2-dimensional numbers. “Normal” numbers (ie, real numbers) can be represented on a line, complex ones on a plane. They have a real part (any normal number is complex number, you just set the imaginary part to be 0) and the imaginary part, which is the real new thing here.
The basis of said imaginary part is *i*, or the square root of -1. And it’s really as simple as not having an answer for what this square root was, so we just invented a symbol for it and went with it.
They have a number of interesting applications, especially when periodic behavior such as waves are involved.
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