Imaginary Numbers
Intuitive
In the beginning mathematicians only used natural numbers: $1,2,3, \ldots$. Then, negative numbers were invented to represent things like debt. For example, $+5$ means a profit of $5$ units, while $-5$ means $5$ units of debt.
The invention of negative numbers then lead to a surprising observation:
- Multiplying a positive number with a negative number yields another negative number: $ -3 \times 5 = -15$.
- Multiplying a negative number with another negative number yields a positive number: $ -3 \times -5 = 15$.
- However, there is no number that yields a negative number when multiplied by itself. Therefore, with positive and negative numbers alone, simple equations like $x^2 = -1$ can't be solved.
For this reason, the imaginary number $i$ was invented. This new number is defined by the property: $i \times i=-1$. In this sense, $i$ was introduced to fill the gap that we discovered above since now we have a number that yields something negative when multiplied by itself.
In the beginning, $i$ was merely a convenient tool to help simplify calculations and its introduction was criticised by many mathematicians. This early criticism is also where the name "imaginary numbers" comes from, which was meant as a derogatory term.
Nowadays, imaginary numbers are an essential tool. Combinations of real and imaginary numbers like, for example, $ 4+3i $, are known as complex numbers. Complex numbers are the standard number system that physicists use.
—
Concrete
- The best introduction is A Visual, Intuitive Guide to Imaginary Numbers by Kalid Azad
There is a theorem due to Hurwitz that the only "normed division algebras" are the real numbers, the complex numbers, the quaternions, and the octonions.
Abstract
Why is it interesting?
Imaginary numbers are essential in modern theories of physics like quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. In these theories, we describe a physical system using complex functions, which means functions that contain combinations of imaginary numbers as arguments.
Moreover, imaginary numbers can often be used to make calculations simpler.
For some further motivation, see the nice list here.
The shortest path between two truths in the real domain passes through the complex domain. J. Hadamard
Important Related Concepts:
History
The name "imaginary numbers" was introduced by Descartes as a derogatory term.