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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. |
Let's keep on with the vacation theme.... Design your own week-long cruise vacation. What would you do? eat? See? Is there a theme? Let your imagination run wild. What I expect will happen: I get on a cruise ship to see the Caribbean (because it's warm, and Alaska is not). I spend most of my time on the cruise ship drinking good booze and eating expensive food. Then, sometimes, I go ashore and duck into someplace shady to drink good booze and eat expensive food, but in a different setting than the cruise ship. These excursions are designed to keep me out of the sun as much as possible, because while I like being warm, I burn at the merest hint of solar radiation, and I really, really hate wearing sunscreen. Seriously, if we were meant to venture outdoors during the day, we wouldn't need sunscreen. All in all, I'd rather stay on the ship where it's shaded. What will actually happen: I get on a cruise ship and, after the first meal, get violently ill from norovirus. They want to airlift me out, but I don't have health insurance so I refuse treatment and have a miserable week. But at least I get to stay indoors. So probably no cruises in my future. I used to think maybe I wanted to go on one, and I still kinda do, but right now the problems outweigh the benefits. |