Imaginary numbers are just really nifty. In fact, they're more than nifty, they're actually niffy. I mean, they're numbers that are imaginary. Real numbers are kind of boring (except the irrational ones, and I'll get to that in a bit). It's like, hohum, real numbers, yeah that's really interesting.

Just to compare, if you were, say, to start talking to someone about a real friend that you had, you could introduce them or show a picture. People are not usually going to think you are a freak if you say this is my friend so-and-so, and so-and-so is standing right there. They might think you are a freak for having a friend named so-and-so, but that's besides the point. However, if you were to introduce your imaginary friend and claim that he is standing there, most people would start to think that you are a little weird, or as in my case, a little weirder.

That's part of what makes imaginary numbers fun. It's pretty easy for someone to accept, when they are learning the numbers, that there is such a thing as 42 (one of the few rare real rational niffy numbers, btw) and that said number 42 represents a concept that they can understand. You can show them 42 dogs, houses, people, etc. But have you ever tried showing someone i houses? Then add on top of that that sometimes you do stuff to the imaginary numbers and get real numbers, that really confuses people.

Complex numbers are fun too, because they sound like they have some kind of mental issues. It's like the real part keeps them anchored a bit in reality, but the imaginary part is off floating around in la la land. Complex numbers are like numbers with multiple personalities.

The only real numbers that, in general, qualify for niffy status are the irrationals. That's just because I like the idea of numbers getting into an argument about something and all of the sudden the irrational number says something that has nothing to do with the topic, like "Yeah, well I personally shaved all the kiwi fruit imported into Canada in 1987 and my dog thinks I'm a turnip." That kind of thing. And the rational numbers just don't know what to make of it because they are rational and think that things should make sense.

BUT - when there's complex numbers that contain irrational numbers, like sqrt(2) + i , then that is even better, because not only are they complex, but they are imaginary and irrational. It's like trying to deal with an imaginary friend with multiple personalities who doesn't make any sense.

If you don't know why 42 is niffy, go read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

01/31/01