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Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

2:36pm EST

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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:

Turkey DrumStik

about 4 hours ago
In response to "Lo!"

Not gonna lie I need the holiday season chatter.

Aiva Raine

about 24 hours ago
In response to "It's Hard Not To Scare"

Shaking head. Aside from the inevitable Simpson's spider goat song playing in my head which I will now share with you below, whenever I come across a story that has all these scientists doing ridiculous experiments for no logical reason, I must go- ah- scientists- CANCER? You do remember that problem right? Can we maybe cure that before we make cockroaches magnetic and elephants see pink elephants?

spider pig clip- and if you all now are singing the spider goat song- you're welcome! grin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARjPuUN36Y

1 Like

Aiva Raine

about 24 hours ago
In response to "Anomalies"

One of your more humorous entries- I especially enjoyed- "Lofoten Vortex can be the name of my Bjork cover band."

Thanks for the laughs. Much appreciated.

2 Like

JayNaNoOhNo

a day ago
In response to "Anomalies"

*Toronto, Canada submits a sternly-worded petition and disputes the center of the universe claim.*

2 Like

tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J

a day ago
In response to "It's Hard Not To Scare"

Smarter mice? Just what we need!

1 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Nov 4, 2024 at 12:22pm
In response to "It's Hard Not To Scare"

"Friendly neighborhood spider-goat." Isn't Marvel working on that for release in '26. - "Yes, it's cute, MJ, but you shouldn't ..."

2 Like

tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J

Nov 3, 2024 at 3:52pm
In response to "Revisied: "Inevitable""

I can think of far more absurd ways to die, but most of them involve alcohol and maybe prostitutes... This statement reminded me of the passing of a friends grandfather; he died of a heart attack while intoxicated and with a prostitute, Viagra also aided in his heart failure.

2 Like

Turkey DrumStik

Nov 3, 2024 at 9:46am
In response to "She Said Spatchcock"

You can spatchcock, or butterfly, any bird.

That bit might only be funny if you're familiar with British slang.

It's really a pity that the British national team's mascot is a lion and not a rooster. Ironically, that's the French national team's mascot, which did make for a pretty good joke during the Olympics.

2 Like

Turkey DrumStik

Nov 3, 2024 at 9:31am
In response to "Cave In"

tj-turkey-jobble-jobble-hard-J

-Yeah, those instigators from Illinois and Texas would really degrade the standards of Hell.

2 Like

Turkey DrumStik

Nov 3, 2024 at 9:30am
In response to "Revisied: "Inevitable""

Though I clicked on it to check, I no longer follow that site and want nothing to do with them, which is why we haven't had any LitHub links in over a year.

Well, now my curiosity is piqued. What happened on this front?

2 Like

May 27, 2022 at 12:05am

#1032910

Under the Sea

I don't really have a lot to say in response to today's article. I just found it to be interesting, and the best-written piece I've ever read on what it's like to be a whatever; in this case, a Navy submarine sailor (so if you want to weigh in here, Sum1's In Seattle

, feel free).

Nukes, Nubs And Coners: The Unique Social Hierarchy Aboard A Nuclear Submarine
Getting assigned to your first sub doesn’t make you a submariner and once you become one you’ll find yourself in a social structure unlike any other.

I would imagine that if you're working with a bunch of other people in exceedingly tight quarters, for months at a time, you'd need some traditions and customs in addition to the usual military codes of conduct. Hell, I can't be stuck with most people for more than a few hours at a stretch without having to retreat. Months? And to think I almost joined the Navy, albeit through the Academy.

A new crewmember is a Non-Useful Body, or NUB. He or she uses our limited supply of space, water, food, and oxygen. They are not welcome, but BUPERS (Bureau of Personnel) keeps sending them.

I get that any new people in the military get hazed and mocked. I even get why (there are a few reasons, not least of which is that if you can't take shit from your superiors, you certainly won't be able to take shit from the enemy). But it's one reason I never signed up. It'd be like:

Chief: "Waltz, I'd call you a tool, but that would be an insult to tools."
Me: "Yes, Chief. You're correct. I am utterly incompetent and always will be. I shouldn't even be here."

Or:

Chief: "Waltz, you're completely useless."
Me: *shrug* "Then why do you even want me to try?"

I think the psychology is meant to make the enlistee really very badly want to prove their NCO wrong. But I figure that would just be disrespectful; why not prove them right instead?

Anyway. Not much else to add to the article. Like I said, I just found it enlightening, as my primary source of information on what it would be like to be stuck with a bunch of people in an airtight vessel was Star Trek, and as much as I like Star Trek, I was never under any illusion that any of it was realistic, especially the wide corridors, spacious bridge, and ample recreational areas.

Incidentally, I once got curious to find out why the command center of a vessel is usually called a "bridge." Apparently it's a holdover from the riverboat days when the controls were on a deck that literally bridged the boat

, between the paddlewheels.

Or so I was told. It's entirely possible I was misinformed. After all, I'm useless.

Incidentally, if you want to mess with a sailor, call a ship a "boat," and call a boat a "ship." Want to know which is which? Don't ask me. But I very nearly picked up a Navy officer lady at a bar one time with that discussion. Until I remembered that I have a sworn rule against picking anyone up at a bar.

5 Like • Comment • View 5 comments

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