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. |
Just a grab bag of vocabulary today. I did, in fact, know what a quincunx is, but since most people don't and it sounds like the quest objective in a sorcerous pornography holodeck game program, I never use the word. It's kind of like why no one ever uses the word "weenus" to describe the loose skin on your elbow. Which is what it is. Here at stylist.co.uk, we like to consider ourselves wordsmiths. Just because you're sitting in a garage doesn't mean you can call yourself a car. But even so, we were stumped when it came to a list of some of the most unusual words in the English dictionary. Really? Because some of these are fairly common, at least in the US. As usual, you'll have to go to the link to see all the words. I'll just highlight a few. Flabbergast Verb: Surprise someone greatly. I've only ever seen this used in the passive sense: "I was flabbergasted." Another word that sounds vaguely criminal, but isn't. Floccinaucinihilipilification Noun: The action or habit of estimating something as worthless. This one, along with antidisestablishmentarianism, I learned early on and memorized the spelling and pronunciation. Just because I'm a nerd. Omnishambles Noun: A situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations. I don't think I've ever seen this one, but it strikes me as being very pleasantly British. Though it could be applied to either of our governments. Penumbra Noun: The partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. Oh, for shit's sake. How is this one in any way obscure or unusual? Sure, it's not an everyday word like "drink" or "intricate," but I think I first encountered it in a children's astronomy book in relation to lunar eclipses. Anyway, no, I don't expect highbrow literature from Stylist. It's not, after all, Cracked. But I'm a sucker for an interesting word list, or at least a list of interesting words, so here you go. |