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. |
I usually take another look at old entries on Sundays, but because I found that Betelgeuse eclipse thing and wanted to share it, I'm digging into the archives today (Monday), instead. As an aside, I've now been doing these Revisited entries for over a year, which means that some of the older ones would be eligible for a second revisit... except I've decided to exclude those, too. This one's not very old, from the end of September of last year: "Cosmological Comedy" , featuring a Cracked article on some purportedly mind-blowing ideas about the universe, or at least parts of it. Me: You can go down your own YouTube rabbit hole... YouTube has been going downhill in general, but since I wrote that entry, the enshittification increased exponentially. I despise ads; it despises ad blockers. So I don't go to YouTube nearly as often, these days. Article: 5. Do We Have Another Planet? I've done a couple of more recent entries, earlier this year, about what I've taken to calling Planet Ix, as a play on the older hypothetical Planet X and the roman numeral for nine. While doing so, I seem to have forgotten about this entry from last September that also talked about it. The 2022 article also speculated: A much more excellent idea is that P9 isn’t a planet but a black hole. A primordial black hole, dating to the first second of creation. As in, the first second ever. Which I mocked, but to be clear: it would be amazingly cool if this were the case, because we'd actually have the capability, theoretically, to send a probe to study a black hole up close (relatively speaking). It would take a long time, sure, but not nearly as long as trying to visit another solar system. Apart from that section, I couldn't find anything else worthy of updating or correction. After all, it hasn't been all that long. The topics also may very well come up in future entries again. Not this week, though. I'm going to start heading home today, most likely a five-day journey (depending on weather and whatever other stuff the universe can throw at me), during which I won't be arsed to make longer blog entries... unless something happens that I need to rant about. |