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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. |
Look, I know today's site is kinda... cheesy (or should I say cheezy?) But the topic is both funny and relevant to writing, so here it is. The English language has some confusing peculiarities to it that result in English struggles, but heck, most languages have some phonetic and semantic weirdness winding through them. And English isn't the only strange language. And yes, many of the posts are about languages other than English. I'm especially amused by the ones about French. The rest of the article is mostly just meme images, which means I get to phone this one in. Just trust me; it's worth it. But it helps to have an ad-blocker going as well as a script blocker. It's not that cheezburger.com is dangerous; it's just packed solid with extraneous crap. As a final disclaimer, some of the posts aren't really factual. But you know what I say: Never let the facts get in the way of a good joke. Or a bad one. Especially a bad one. One comment stands out for me, though, buried in image #6: "Are you telling me that we are such sarcastic shits it literally changed our language" Yes. Yes, that is exactly what I'm telling you. Anyway, these all made me laugh, which is usually a good thing. So I had to share for your amusement. |