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. |
As I warned yesterday, short update today, and be aware I'm going to spend most of it bitching. My plan to catch the total eclipse was: Drive to Louisville (about 7-8 hours), which is outside but close to the path of totality; then, today, drive into Indiana, most of which will experience the full monty. Well, the plan's holding up so far, and the hotel I picked wasn't price-gouging, and they managed to not "lose" my reservation. So there's that. The hotel kinda blows, though. My first clue was when my room key didn't open the door. I went to get it fixed. Still didn't open the door. There's tea in the lobby, which, if you've been following along, maybe you remember is one thing I don't mind paying extra for. However, the provided hot water wasn't hot. If I wanted ice tea, I'd have traveled south instead of west. The toilet doesn't like to flush, either. I hope those problems aren't related. They also put us in a room right across from a massive, military-grade floodlight. I was hoping for an eclipse of that, but no. On top of which, it was one of those nights: As long as I was up and doing stuff, all I wanted to do was sleep. When I'd try to sleep, my brain insisted on staying awake. I'm not usually one to have trouble sleeping in hotel rooms. I generally like hotel rooms, and I've certainly slept in enough of them. At this point, I'm going to be so tired that I'll probably succumb to the darkness the moment the full eclipse begins. Honestly, I expected better from a Hilton. Perhaps my mistake was expecting better from Louisville. |