Complex numbers in the context of "Imaginary number"

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⭐ Core Definition: Complex numbers

In mathematics, a complex number is an element of a number system that extends the real numbers with a specific element denoted i, called the imaginary unit and satisfying the equation ; every complex number can be expressed in the form , where a and b are real numbers. Because no real number satisfies the above equation, i was called an imaginary number by René Descartes. For the complex number , a is called the real part, and b is called the imaginary part. The set of complex numbers is denoted by either of the symbols or C. Despite the historical nomenclature, "imaginary" complex numbers have a mathematical existence as firm as that of the real numbers, and they are fundamental tools in the scientific description of the natural world.

Complex numbers allow solutions to all polynomial equations, even those that have no solutions in real numbers. More precisely, the fundamental theorem of algebra asserts that every non-constant polynomial equation with real or complex coefficients has a solution which is a complex number. For example, the equationhas no real solution, because the square of a real number cannot be negative, but has the two nonreal complex solutions and .

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Complex numbers in the context of Rational number

In mathematics, a rational number is a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers, a numerator p and a non-zero denominator q. For example, is a rational number, as is every integer (for example, ). The set of all rational numbers is often referred to as "the rationals", and is closed under addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by a nonzero rational number. It is a field under these operations and therefore also calledthe field of rationals or the field of rational numbers. It is usually denoted by boldface Q, or blackboard bold

A rational number is a real number. The real numbers that are rational are those whose decimal expansion either terminates after a finite number of digits (example: 3/4 = 0.75), or eventually begins to repeat the same finite sequence of digits over and over (example: 9/44 = 0.20454545...). This statement is true not only in base 10, but also in every other integer base, such as the binary and hexadecimal ones (see Repeating decimal § Extension to other bases).

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Complex numbers in the context of Complex analysis

Complex analysis, traditionally known as the theory of functions of a complex variable, is the branch of mathematical analysis that investigates functions of a complex variable of complex numbers. It is helpful in many branches of mathematics, including real analysis, algebraic geometry, number theory, analytic combinatorics, and applied mathematics, as well as in physics, including the branches of hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and twistor theory. By extension, use of complex analysis also has applications in engineering fields such as nuclear, aerospace, mechanical and electrical engineering.

At first glance, complex analysis is the study of holomorphic functions that are the differentiable functions of a complex variable. By contrast with the real case, a holomorphic functions is always infinitely differentiable and equal to the sum of its Taylor series in some neighborhood of each point of its domain.This makes methods and results of complex analysis significantly different from that of real analysis. In particular, contrarily, with the real case, the domain of every holomorphic function can be uniquely extended to almost the whole complex plane. This implies that the study of real analytic functions needs often the power of complex analysis. This is, in particular, the case in analytic combinatorics.

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Complex numbers in the context of Zero

0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity. Adding (or subtracting) 0 to any number leaves that number unchanged; in mathematical terminology, 0 is the additive identity of the integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers, as well as other algebraic structures. Multiplying any number by 0 results in 0, and consequently dividing by 0 is generally considered to be undefined in arithmetic.

As a numerical digit, 0 plays a crucial role in decimal notation: it indicates that the power of ten corresponding to the place containing a 0 does not contribute to the total. For example, "205" in decimal means two hundreds, no tens, and five ones. The same principle applies in place-value notations that uses a base other than ten, such as binary and hexadecimal. The modern use of 0 in this manner derives from Indian mathematics that was transmitted to Europe via medieval Islamic mathematicians and popularized by Fibonacci. It was independently used by the Maya.

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Complex numbers in the context of One-dimensional space

A one-dimensional space (1D space) is a mathematical space in which location can be specified with a single coordinate. An example is the number line, each point of which is described by a single real number. Any straight line or smooth curve is a one-dimensional space, regardless of the dimension of the ambient space in which the line or curve is embedded. Examples include the circle on a plane, or a parametric space curve.In physical space, a 1D subspace is called a "linear dimension" (rectilinear or curvilinear), with units of length (e.g., metre).

In algebraic geometry there are several structures that are one-dimensional spaces but are usually referred to by more specific terms. Any field is a one-dimensional vector space over itself. The projective line over denoted is a one-dimensional space. In particular, if the field is the complex numbers then the complex projective line is one-dimensional with respect to (but is sometimes called the Riemann sphere, as it is a model of the sphere, two-dimensional with respect to real-number coordinates).

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Complex numbers in the context of Riemann hypothesis

In mathematics, the Riemann hypothesis is the conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part 1/2. Many consider it to be the most important unsolved problem in pure mathematics. It is of great interest in number theory because it implies results about the distribution of prime numbers. It was proposed by Bernhard Riemann (1859), after whom it is named.

The Riemann hypothesis and some of its generalizations, along with Goldbach's conjecture and the twin prime conjecture, make up Hilbert's eighth problem in David Hilbert's list of twenty-three unsolved problems; it is also one of the Millennium Prize Problems of the Clay Mathematics Institute, which offers US$1 million for a solution to any of them. The name is also used for some closely related analogues, such as the Riemann hypothesis for curves over finite fields.

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Complex numbers in the context of Functions of a complex variable

Complex analysis, traditionally known as the theory of functions of a complex variable, is the branch of mathematical analysis that investigates functions of a complex variable of complex numbers. It is helpful in many branches of mathematics, including real analysis, algebraic geometry, number theory, analytic combinatorics, and applied mathematics, as well as in physics, including the branches of hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, and twistor theory. By extension, use of complex analysis also has applications in engineering fields such as nuclear, aerospace, mechanical and electrical engineering.

At first glance, complex analysis is the study of holomorphic functions that are the differentiable functions of a complex variable. By contrast with the real case, a holomorphic function is always infinitely differentiable and equal to the sum of its Taylor series in some neighborhood of each point of its domain.This makes methods and results of complex analysis significantly different from that of real analysis. In particular, contrarily, with the real case, the domain of every holomorphic function can be uniquely extended to almost the whole complex plane. This implies that the study of real analytic functions needs often the power of complex analysis. This is, in particular, the case in analytic combinatorics.

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