Try to imagine a number that does not fit the definition of a complex number. What would the number represent? What would it look like?

@dumbcow @Euler271 @ivettef365 @ganeshie8

Question

Try to imagine a number that does not fit the definition of a complex number. What would the number represent? What would it look like?

@dumbcow @Euler271 @ivettef365 @ganeshie8

yrelhan4 · Answer

Any number that does not have sqrt(-1) in it is not a complex number.

anonymous · Answer

like?

skullpatrol · Answer

The first thing you need is the definition please?

skullpatrol · Answer

In math don't let your imagination go to wild, first understand the definitions you must work with.

anonymous · Answer

wrong @yrelhan4

anonymous · Answer

what if we could make infinite or infinitesimal numbers?

yrelhan4 · Answer

eh. i thought thats what complex numbers were. sorry about that.

skullpatrol · Answer

infinity is not a number

skullpatrol · Answer

It can never be a number.

anonymous · Answer

@yrelhan4 you're close -- those are imaginary numbers. complex numbers are $a+bi$ for real $a,b$ -- i.e. an extension of the usual algebra of reals with the addition of $i=\sqrt1$

anonymous · Answer

$i=\sqrt{-1}$ rather

anonymous · Answer

@skullpatrol http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperreal_number http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_projective_line http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_real_number_line etc.