Re: Help with confirmation on a small bit of assembly?

[Don Bruder <dakidd@sonic.net>]

In article <tIOdnR0PWdX63yDYnZ2dnUVZ_rGinZ2d@comcast.com>,
 "Alex Freed" <alexf@mirrow.com> wrote:

> "Don Bruder" <dakidd@sonic.net> wrote in message 
> news:45bd1ec5$0$68960$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> 
> > Imaginary number: A real number * i, where the value of i is most
> > commonly held to be equal to the square root of negative 2.
> 
> Make that "the square root of negative 1".


Oops... fat fingers and poor proofreading.
 
However... Negative 1, negative 2, negative 8,436... They're all the 
same for purposes of this discussion: the square root of any of them is 
an imaginary number. 

> >
> > What's so imaginary about that?
> >
> > Ever tried taking the square root of a negative number? Or squaring a
> > number (ANY number, negative or positive) to get a negative result?
> > Doesn't work too well, does it? :)
> 
> Yes it does. Take "i" and square it. You'll get a negative -1 by definition.

OK, wise-guy, any *REAL* number...

The *REALLY* fun part is doing "imaginary math", by using real numbers 
and multiplying them by i-squared to get a real number as your imaginary 
answer :)
 
> This also answers your question "What's so imaginary about that?"

Really? Please, write down the value of "i". To keep it simple, an 
approximation to the 3rd decimal place will be sufficient. 

Show your work. 

(Do that, and I'll believe in imaginary numbers :) )


> 
> One thing that is even stranger is that all the "infinities" (if this word 
> has a plural form)
> are the same point on the plane.
> 

Eh... I don't  think that holds, seeing as they are, by definition, an 
infinite distance apart... Rather difficult for two points an infinite 
distance apart to be/occupy the same point, wouldn't you agree?

-- 
Don Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - If your "From:" address isn't on my whitelist,
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