Complex Numbers (Book)

Blog Calendar

◄ October ► 2010
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31
Archive				RSS

About This Author

Contact Me

Come closer.

Complex Numbers

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:

🌖 HuntersMoon

Sep 20, 2025 at 12:12am
In response to "Numbers End"

Boy, am I behind thee times. I thought you just put this on hiatus. Of course, in March I wasn't a complete devotee of your brilliance yet.

I'm more than happy with Carrion Luggage, however.

1 Like

Stik to My Own Beat

May 1, 2025 at 7:09pm
In response to "Shhhhhhh"

Anytime I hear/read about the Quiet Zone, I am always reminded of this video.

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

Mar 12, 2025 at 8:16pm
In response to "Penultimatum"

As my Grandmother used to say, "Everything changes except that which stays the same." I never did understand why she said it, but it sounds good.

1 Like

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

Mar 12, 2025 at 8:13pm
In response to "Numbers End"

Looking forward to the new book and hoping you don't encounter a meteor.

1 Like

Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008

Mar 12, 2025 at 4:19pm
In response to "Numbers End"

Sorry this one is closing..I will look for the new one tomorrow! Looking forward to it.

2 Like

Aiva Raine

Mar 12, 2025 at 3:45pm
In response to "Numbers End"

Thanks for a great 3000 entries.

Looking forward to the new blog, whatever it might be.

2 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Mar 12, 2025 at 1:36pm
In response to "Numbers End"

OK. What have you done with the real Robert Waltz?

Also, for the scientist engineer in me, have you actually tried to make entry 3001 and been rejected. Until there's proof, it's not real.

Thank you for your indulgence and sharing of wisdom.

R.I.P. "Complex Numbers"

3 Like

Anni Pon

Mar 12, 2025 at 11:20am
In response to "Numbers End"

Sorry that this one is coming to an end, but I'm excited to see what you have in store for the new one!

2 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

Mar 11, 2025 at 1:42pm
In response to "Penultimatum"

It's been an enlightening run. We wish you well in your next adventure.

It will be interesting to see if after the next entry that WDC actually does stop you from adding another.

We're all waiting on pens and pencils for the unveiling of the new blog and to discover what it will be called.

1 Like

BIG BAD WOLF is Surprised

Mar 11, 2025 at 10:46am
In response to "Penultimatum"

I'm reminded of this scene from The Princess Bride.

(Vizzini has just cut the rope The Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing up)
Vizzini: HE DIDN'T FALL? INCONCEIVABLE.
Inigo Montoya: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

3 Like

October 5, 2010 at 10:54pm

#707803

Darkness on the Edge of Town

It's still happening. I can feel it happening. I can't sleep at night. I can't stay awake during the day. I feel like Something Bad is going to happen at any moment. My heart races, and when I do manage to sleep, I wake up screaming.

No, I'm not thinking about the possibility of batshit crazy Christine O'Donnell becoming a senator - though that's part of it. I just keep slipping further into what can only be depression. Normally I don't notice it because that's my default mode, but dammit, I was okay for a few weeks, there, despite being dumped.

This is going to fuck up my NaNoWriMo schedule, isn't it?

Goddammit.

The only bright side to any of this is I think I can be funnier when I'm depressed. Therefore, I won't be going to the doctor, because people read more of my shit if I'm funny. If I suddenly stop showing up here, you know what happened. Someone come by and feed my cats, please.

Anyway, that won't happen until after Halloween. Probably not until after I go to Iowa for a science fiction convention and to visit Storm Machine

in November. Not even until after early December, when I'm going to Vegas for a concert I can't talk about because I said I'd lay off on that sort of thing for a while (though yes, I did blow my concert budget. I figure maybe I'll go to fewer next year or something. Yeah, right.). After that, though, is the goddamn winter holidays, and nothing - nothing - depresses me more than that. Not even Springsteen songs.

Okay, enough of that crap.

Halloween.

I appreciate all the costume ideas. I may not use any of them, but they helped me brainstorm. I'm still thinking about it, between four or five possibilities. Since I'm not motivated to do much of anything, I'll go with whatever I feel would take the least amount of work. I probably won't announce it here. But I'll put up a pic, afterward, if someone takes one.

Just a few comments on your comments:

AL

: What's a kindle?

You get a pass on that one because you ain't from 'round here. A kindle is Amazon's e-book reader. And it's pretty cool. Only I've had to increase my book budget because now books are too easy to get. Used to be I'd have to get off my ass and travel to the local Boobs&Nipple, and they'd have like maybe one book I was remotely interested in if I were lucky. The Kindle, by contrast, is like "You read a lot of Jim Butcher. Allow us to introduce you to the writings of Brent Weeks. First hit's free!"

My brother came to me once an hour before he was supposed to be at masquerade party and asked me to help him with a costume. I picked up 2 sheepskins that I had lying on the floor and sewed them on to him, messed his hair up, and put some makeup on him, and made him a caveman. He won first prize at the place.

You could be a caveman I think.

Yeah! And then no one would care if I clubbed Even

Cuter

Friend and dragged her off by the hair, because I'd be acting in character!

Stik to My Own Beat

: As tempted as I am to suggest a Vulcan or a mutilated breast cancer awareness ribbon, those are my costumes. Let me think about it when my brain is a little more with the program.

I've never heard of mutilated breast cancer.

Seriously, though, I can't pull off a Vulcan - except for the raised eyebrow and the "Live long and prosper" thing with the hand. And if I were to go as a mutilated ribbon, it'd be one of those shitty yellow "support our troops" ones. Yeah, right. More like "support your local magnet manufacturer."

mindfulmoon: okay, I get a free pass on this because you're skipping my wedding ... Hello Kitty Vampire

That would certainly show her true colors.

prince charming zombie?

So instead of "braaaaaaaains" I'll be chanting "boooooooobs."

Plato! You get to wear a toga, ask probing questions and... use one of my favorite jokes lavishly. "Want to have a Platonic relationship with me?" "Sure" "Great! I'll be Plato and you can be my sultry Persian slave girl." Helps if you whip out a collar and leash at this point.

I have all those things.

Sephina

: Well, you could go as Harry Dresden. Should be easy. Coat, staff, maybe the rod. Course, nobody may realize what you're dressed as. But screw 'em.

Not if they can't figure out what I'm dressed as, I won't. Screw 'em, that is. Though I could pull off the trenchcoat, hat, blasting rod and staff thing. Unfortunately, I'd also need to grow by about a foot.

MaryLou

: go as a Kindle

Not a bad idea. have no idea how I'd pull it off. Seems too complicated to put together, though, and like I said, I'm just not creative when it comes to putting a costume together.

Chewie Kittie

: My daughter wants to be Xena this year. Perhaps you could pull that off?

Yeah... no.

Storm Machine

: I once went as an engineer - the kind that drives trains. Pair of striped overalls and the fun striped hat with a white shirt and a red bandana and boots. Pretty simple costume idea and it's even a little punny.

Could work. Would have to spend money on the costume, but it wouldn't involve sewing and shit.

Harlow Flick, Right Fielder

: You’ve got the legs for a lovely Hannah Montana.

bugzy is baaaccck!!

: I'm thinking a real Bare Naked Lady ... perhaps named Cindy? Sounds like you have the legs

I do have the legs, but they're all the way at the bottom of the freezer, and it'd be a real pain in the ass to dig them out at this point.

Comment • View 4 comments

© Copyright 2025 Robert Waltz (UN: cathartes02 at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Robert Waltz has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.