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Complex Numbers
Complex Numbers
A complex number is expressed in the standard form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is defined by i^2 = -1 (that is, i is the square root of -1). For example, 3 + 2i is a complex number.
The bi term is often referred to as an imaginary number (though this may be misleading, as it is no more "imaginary" than the symbolic abstractions we know as the "real" numbers). Thus, every complex number has a real part, a, and an imaginary part, bi.
Complex numbers are often represented on a graph known as the "complex plane," where the horizontal axis represents the infinity of real numbers, and the vertical axis represents the infinity of imaginary numbers. Thus, each complex number has a unique representation on the complex plane: some closer to real; others, more imaginary. If a = b, the number is equal parts real and imaginary.
Very simple transformations applied to numbers in the complex plane can lead to fractal structures of enormous intricacy and astonishing beauty.
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Thursdays are when Star Trek: Discovery shows up. CBS, with its grasp on the past, posts it at 8:30 pm, one episode at a time.
But this Thursday was also the premier of the Captain Marvel movie, which I had to see around 8:00 to 10:30 in order to avoid spoilers.
Back in the old days, this would have been a problem. Not today. I came home, took care of some things, and watched Disco when I damn well felt like it. Streaming FTW.
Aside:
Back in engineering school, I had a professor who was always going on about "the old days," including tales of slide rules and manual drafting. So one day he launches into one of his "Back in the old days..." rants. Now, the way this classroom was set up, it was rows of tables, each of which sat two. I shared a table with a woman whose name I don't remember. On this particular day, no sooner had he gotten those five words out when my table partner muttered, "...as the Earth was cooling..." and I fucking lost my shit laughing.
Everyone looked at me. It was embarrassing. The woman in question maintained an inscrutable, innocent Vulcan face.
End of aside.
Anyway, I'm not going to spoil either show. But Disco is a great show, and Captain Marvel is a movie worth watching if you've been keeping up with the Marvel movie universe - if not, maybe catch up first.
I will say this: back when Doctor Who was doing its fiftieth anniversary celebration, they included some scenes from the very first episode, fifty years in the past, which at the time was 1963. But Star Trek just broke that record with clips from a show well over 50 years old. It would be difficult to beat that anytime soon - for anyone but Doctor Who, anyway. Hell, at this point, 50 years ago was the final season of the original Star Trek series.
And this: If you haven't been keeping up with the Marvel universe, catch up. It's worth it. |
© Copyright 2024 Robert Waltz (UN: cathartes02 at Writing.Com). All rights reserved. Robert Waltz has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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