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Complex Numbers

by Robert Waltz

Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1196512

Not for the faint of art.

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.

http://www.ddewey.net/mandelbrot/

Signature for Honorable Mentions in 2018 Quill Awards

A signature for exclusive use of winners at the 2019 Quill Awards

Signature for those who have won a Quill Award at the 2020 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Kåre Enga in Montana

a day ago
In response to "Plan Solo"

I'm more introverted than extroverted, but my only apprehension involves language and cultural barriers.

I'm bi- or ambi- but... always annoying. I waver between wanting to be left alone and not wanting to be alone.

I make my adjustments as necessary.

But LANGUAGE and CULTURE: true barriers that can cause problems for some and angst for me. I love strangers but find it frustrating when I can't connect.

For Belgium: make those plans soon. Today's connectivity means booking lodging in advance. In the old days it was show-up-and-ask-if-they-have-a-room. Still possible but not recommended unless cost is not an issue.

I prefer staying in hostels but rarely join in 'events'. I have gone out with fellow travelers however.

Kåre Enga in Montana

a day ago
In response to "Banned Camp"

I remember when the movie "Brokeback Mountain" received "F"s from folks who basically commented that they would never NEVER watch such filth. Even those who liked or enjoyed it missed the main theme of poverty (financial, cultural, individual...). Personally, I preferred the short story to the movie. Both made a point that America didn't/doesn't want to face: choice and lack of choice.

That said, if someone were to ban my poetry I could probably live off of the notoriety.

Burning at the stake though seems a more likely outcome.

2 Like

🌕 HuntersMoon

a day ago
In response to "Banned Camp"

"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading." Isaac Asimov

2 Like

Aiva Raine

May 21, 2024 at 11:34pm
In response to "More Science"

Giggles. Thank you for the laugh- especially this phrase, "I always picture Doc Brown's workshop in Back to the Future. Yes, of course I know it's wrong, but I'd rather be amused than right."

1 Like

Aiva Raine

May 17, 2024 at 6:57pm
In response to "Knead Some Dough?"

I grew up on mostly Wonder Bread despite our family having a large dry farm (dry farm being a farm that grows wheat and barley and safflower without irrigation- it relies solely upon mother nature to rain). I was never fond of it and looked forward to the times my mom would laboriously mill and grind the grain we brought back during harvest into flour and make home-made wheat bread. There was and still is nothing better than fresh whole wheat bread with a little butter and honey.

I think we did the Wonder Bread because my mom wasn't a fan of cooking and making bread is a time-consuming process.

I quit doing the white bread decades ago. There are so many kinds of healthy, no HFCS, etc whole grain breads out there that are delicious that I have no idea why any adult would choose the crappy Wonder Bread.

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

May 13, 2024 at 1:18pm
In response to "The Breakfast and the Breakfurious"

And for those who rather not read the Smithsonian article, the History Channel episode that covers Pop Tarts (if you have a cable TV account):

https://www.history.com/shows/the-food-that-built-america/season-4/episode-1

Annette

May 10, 2024 at 12:05pm
In response to "Meditation Clause"

Everytime a stranger asks me to close my eyes, I keep my eyes open to see what they are up to.
Meditation is not for me.

But I think most people would have 45 minutes every day if they took that time away from social media or TV watching.

2 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

May 9, 2024 at 1:15pm
In response to "Super Stew?"

But . . .

What's the difference between one being in the soup or in a stew? Is one thinner or thicker? How do writers use soup and stew?

1 Like

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 9, 2024 at 10:11am
In response to "Super Stew?"

"Served in a pot? Maybe in your country."

Honestly, in the US I'd think soup would be served in a pot due to the quantity that ends up being consumed.

1 Like

Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008

May 8, 2024 at 3:02pm
In response to "Be Positive"

Mine always tell me to eat more fruits and veggies.

April 14, 2023 at 11:31am

#1048188

I Ain't Got a Thing...

Another fashion entry, courtesy of "Journalistic Intentions"

[18+]...

Swing

Wait, wait, hold up.

"Swing" has like 48 definitions, of which exactly 0 of them that I'm aware of fit the fashion theme. (But I know at least four that refer to sex.)

Time, then, to become aware.

For the first time in history, Wikipedia fails me here. There's the usual disambiguation page,

which parses out many of the 48 (I pulled that number out of my ass, but doesn't seem to be far off from reality) possible meanings of the word "swing." Not one of these refers to clothing.

So let's try that old standby, Merriam-Webster.

Nope.

Now, look, I'll save us both some time here: best I can figure out, the only clothing-related use of the word "swing" that I could find anywhere refers to a dress style from the 1950s.

I hadn't been born yet; I'm generally bewildered by nuances of fashion; I don't wear dresses; I've never been in a serious relationship with someone who regularly wore dresses. So my lack of knowledge here shouldn't be surprising (though it's at least partly fixed now). Still, it makes me wonder why both WIkipedia and one of the leading American dictionaries failed me.

Apparently, from what little I can piece together (most of the search results I found were vendors, which is even less reliable than Wikipedia, and hopefully this morning's frantic Googling will confuse the living shit out of someone at the NSA), the swing dress was for dancing to... wait for it... swing jazz.

Which I have heard of, because unlike fashion, music is an actual interest of mine. Though I'm not generally fond of jazz.

But there is one advantage of ignorance: I can use it to make shit up.

So, obviously, the first thing I thought of was that it might be the clothes that swingers wear. As that might be ambiguous, I'll note that by "swingers," I mean the partner-swapping scene. But that wouldn't make sense; as far as I know, swingers don't use clothing to differentiate themselves from monogamists.

Maybe... clothes to wear on a swing? When I was a kid and could still fit on swings, we just wore whatever we were wearing. Which led to quite a few skinned knees.

Or, ooh, I know! it's clothing that'll change your political affiliation. "Here, wear this vest. It'll make you vote for the Libertarian and like it."

Compared to even my lousy imagination, though, the reality is—as per usual—quite disappointing, at least to me. That is, of course, assuming that I'm somehow right, which is a massive assumption. It's disappointing to me because, to me, there are only three kinds of dresses: 1) Wedding dress; 2) Bridesmaid's dress (look, I used to be a wedding photographer); 3) Dress.

I don't believe in only learning shit about shit that affects me. But even I can't hold unlimited information in my noggin, which is why things like search engines and dictionaries and encyclopedias are my friends (and auxiliary memory). Even an established nerd like me needs to let some things pass unnoticed, or I'd be overwhelmed with trivia. It's annoying and frustrating to me when such references fail.

But hey, at least I learned something new today. Again.

2 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

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