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Saturday, Jun. 1, 2024

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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:

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 29, 2024 at 9:02am
In response to "Ordinary Average Guy"

I think we need to be careful about saying there's no difference in socializing between online and off. I saw the following in response to a comment about discussions of gender online and the stances taken by LGBTQ community members that are chronically online:

"Truth. I had to stop looking for queer spaces online because it was full of this and angry exclusion discourse. I found some queer spaces offline and it reminded me that most people are normal and chill."

This is a topic I will likely be visiting in my journal in July. I figured I'd at least get this response in here first as a warm-up.

1 Like

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 28, 2024 at 1:46pm
In response to "Long in the Tooth"

I feel I was too busy as a teen to screw around in convenience stores. On the rare occasion I wasn't at school or working, I tended to hang out by myself. If I hung out with friends, it was usually at someone's house (rarely mine).

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 27, 2024 at 11:42am
In response to "Olive It And More"

Every once in a while, someone will misread the order slip and give me green peppers, which are an abomination, instead of green olives.

They truly are an abomination. If you're going to put peppers on a pizza, make sure it's anything but those little soggy cardboard slice things. Hell, even poblanos would be a major upgrade.

1 Like

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 27, 2024 at 11:38am
In response to "Coming Up the Pike"

Man, people on Fandom Secrets would be aghast at how much you like Strange New Worlds. Personally, I haven't seen much of it. However, I did watch an episode at the gym once and found it enjoyable. It gave me that fascinated feeling I had when watching The Next Generation as a kid.

1 Like

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 27, 2024 at 11:13am
In response to "Burgundy"

I will admit that I'm not much of a wine drinker. I've had reds and whites but tend to prefer reds. Then again, when it comes to booze, I tend to prefer things that are more intense in flavor. White wines...tend not to be that way for me.

2 Like

Elisa the Bunny Stik

May 27, 2024 at 10:38am
In response to "Distrust the Process"

That being said, I do think that people going out of their way to demonize ultra-processed foods are causing just as many issues as lobbyists are. These folks' actions exacerbate eating disorders and nervous thinking around food insecurity in equal measure. I wish the conversation around this set of actions was louder.

3 Like

Elycia Lee ☮

May 27, 2024 at 10:31am
In response to "Distrust the Process"

To me, as long food is 100% natural, then it is healthy. Pretty much like fruits, veggies and rice. I know people have thoughts about whether rice is good or not, but it is natural food so... I shall go with that.

2 Like

Kåre Enga in Montana

May 25, 2024 at 3:13pm
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

May 25, 2024 at 2:58pm
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

May 25, 2024 at 11:32am
In response to "Banned Camp"

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

2 Like

May 5, 2019 at 12:07am

#958246

Nothing Really Sucks

Happy Sunday! Take the time in your blog today to reflect on your week. Share one thing you accomplished this week and one thing you hope to accomplish next week.

Accomplishments are overrated. At this point, my greatest accomplishment is "I'm still alive." I hope to accomplish this again next week.

I wasn't always this way, you know. Like most everyone, I had big plans when I was young. Own a company, travel, be able to retire comfortably, own a house, live with cats, write, become a rock star...

Rarely did I stop and think how these goals were contradictory. When one owns a company, one rarely has the time to travel or write. If one travels, one is spending money that could fuel retirement. At least it's possible to own a house and put cats in it.

Thing is, though... I accomplished all of these goals. Well, except for the rock star one. That one I gave up on. Turns out lack of talent is still a barrier to that; who knew?

So, I quit making goals. Well, sort of. I continue to lose weight. That's something, I suppose. And I do have the nebulous and impossible desire to visit every microbrewery in America. Nebulous because it's a goal without a real plan; it's not like I can visit over 6000 breweries while driving. Impossible because, every week, on average, we gain two breweries and lose one. Hell, California alone has over 10% of them; it's all the way on the other coast, and even if I visited two a day it would take me nearly a year just for that state. Maybe it'll finally secede and then it won't technically have breweries in my country.

Still, it's something to shoot for. Just not this week.

This week, then, will be more of the same. Keep myself distracted so I don't eat. Go to the gym. Get some writing done - this blogging activity and other stuff. Oh, and I have a contest to judge; that's going to take a good chunk of my time.

Here's the other thing about goals and plans that I realized a while back: Every time you decide to make a change in your life, you have to give up something. Maybe you want to give up something; that's okay. But say, for instance, I decided I wanted to date again. Then I'd have to give up video game time. I'm not willing to give up video game time; ergo, I don't date.

At some point, I reached a place in my life where I said, "Okay. That's it. That's enough." And it really is enough. Not that I don't want to continue to grow or change, but at this point, nothing really sucks, so why fuck with it?

I mean, "everything is awesome" might be better than "nothing really sucks," but at the same time, "nothing really sucks" beats "life is crap." And making the wrong life decisions ends up in "life is crap."

By the way, the bit about having to give up something to make a change in your life? It works the other way around, too. That is, if you want to give something up - say, smoking or Facebook - you can't really just, you know, give it up. Whatever that activity is, it took time and energy. That time and energy can't be destroyed; it can only be redirected. "I will munch on baby carrots" works much better than "I will quit smoking." "I will read actual books" can lead to less time on Facebook. That sort of thing.

So, nothing sucks. And I intend to keep it that way as long as I can.

7 Like • Comment • View 6 comments

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