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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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In another astounding coincidence, the random entry I picked to revisit today, from April of 2020, touches on many of the same topics I discussed last week: the search for alien life, and science in general: "The Truth is Out There"
Hell, it even has a similar title to last Wednesday's entry. Look, I'm closing in on 2800 entries here; I'll get there before August is out. I know some titles have been repeated. Sometimes, I make an effort to avoid reusing a title, but much of the time, I can't be arsed. This isn't even a case of reuse, but variation on a theme.
In any case, I consider last Wednesday's entry to be the update on my opinion on the subject of the search for extraterrestrial life, so I'll try to focus on other things I wrote back then.
I've been following this guy, PZ Myers, for a while now, and while I don't always agree, I appreciate his point of view. Except about movies.
I think I've linked his blog at least once again since then. Still reading his stuff, though he's become utterly obsessed with spiders. I don't hate or fear spiders, but I lack that level of obsession. That's not the only thing he posts. And I've grown to appreciate his point of view about movies, to the extent that he's a negative barometer for me: generally, if he hates a movie, I'll like it, and vice-versa. Especially when it comes to comic book adaptations. Just recently, he ragged on the Deadpool/Wolverine movie, which served to make me want to watch it more. Which I haven't, yet.
Thanks, Myers, you made me look up a word for the first time in years.
The word then was "apophenia." Since then, I've discovered even more words I had to look up (not counting those I chose to look up due to my interest in etymology, which is not the same thing as an interest in entomology, which doesn't include spiders). I count any day when I learn something new as a good day. Well, unless something bad happens to balance it out.
Pretty much everything else is either not noteworthy, or was covered in here last week. Except for a big fucking oops on my part, where I apparently pasted a quotation twice. I try to do some basic proofreading before I post these things, but sometimes, something slips through the process. Still not as bad as when I find a years-old typo. Those are truly embarrassing.
But hey, at least that's evidence that I don't post using Artificial Intelligence; anything I put here is either a quote or Natural Stupidity. |
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