(And I still don't understand how *imaginary* numbers work in *real* application.)
It's the only way you can measure a unicorn's horn.
Willow, check you out! Witch-Fu!
Buffy ,'Lessons'
Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
DavidS - Jun 29, 2009 12:07:13 pm PDT #26543 of 30000
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
tommyrot - Jun 29, 2009 12:08:47 pm PDT #26544 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
(And I still don't understand how *imaginary* numbers work in *real* application.)
They're very useful in electronics.
Sophia Brooks - Jun 29, 2009 12:08:53 pm PDT #26545 of 30000
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here
I'm with Steph WRT the practical applications-- if it is imaginary and not real, how does it help us make a curve in real life? Or what have you...
Polter-Cow - Jun 29, 2009 12:10:25 pm PDT #26546 of 30000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
(And I still don't understand how *imaginary* numbers work in *real* application.)
Because i2 is a real number. Also this.
Gudanov - Jun 29, 2009 12:10:30 pm PDT #26547 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping
And I still don't understand how *imaginary* numbers work in *real* application.
I don't remember very well. I think you can use them to introduce a new dimension to a calculation. I believe one example is introducing phase into the math of AC electrical circuits.
Polter-Cow - Jun 29, 2009 12:12:18 pm PDT #26548 of 30000
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
Yep, that's the example Wikipedia gives.
Kat - Jun 29, 2009 12:12:35 pm PDT #26549 of 30000
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
Argh! Mathiness!
I'm with Steph. You math folks can have some punctuation, but please leave the letters alone.
Gudanov - Jun 29, 2009 12:13:24 pm PDT #26550 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping
if it is imaginary and not real
It's still a number, it's just not in the set of real numbers so it got tagged with a misleading name. Some people, I'm not saying who, are bigoted against numbers that aren't in the real set.
Theodosia - Jun 29, 2009 12:15:57 pm PDT #26551 of 30000
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
Look at it this way, negative numbers are, in real world terms, imaginary in that you can't, for example, have "negative three apples".
Some numbers are just more imaginary than others.
Gudanov - Jun 29, 2009 12:17:47 pm PDT #26552 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping
I suppose you could have a negative apple, but if it touched anything you'd start tossing around battleships.
A medium sized negative apple appears to have a yield of 1.5 megatons of destructive force. About 3 megatons of actual energy.