Relating Imaginary Numbers to Physical Characteristics

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Mapping Imaginary to Physical - Lesson 1

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Contrary to its name, the Imaginary Number exists in a similar fashion to the Real number, often describing physical characteristics that we can detect, observe, and measure. Common applications are circuit analysis in electrical engineering, and vibration analysis in mechanical engineering. In Lesson 1, we demonstrate this link to the physical with a very simple example - quantifying the size of a photograph. We build on this fundamental concept later to demonstrate utility in real world applications.

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Got Milk?
OK, first the dry stuff from school; well be very brief. The imaginary unit, i, is shown right. Rollover once for implications. Rollover again for the imaginary number, defined as the imaginary unit multiplied by a real number; some examples of imaginary numbers: 4i, or -2.7i. This definition gives the imaginary number special properties, putting it on a separate dimension, or number line, from the real number. This second dimension is managed by using the complex number.

The 2 Dimensional Complex Number

The complex number, represented here as z, packages the real and imaginary number into a single variable. It is defined as z=a+bi where a and b are real numbers. The complex number is useful for describing two dimensional variables. The real part of the complex number quantifies one dimension, and the imaginary part quantifies another. Rollover image right for an example.

Complex Plane Imaging

OK. So the complex number can be used for two dimensional things, but we need a more visual representation - the complex plane. The complex plane is simply a graph onto which we plot the Real and Imaginary parts of our complex number. We have placed a System Variable, S (red dot) in quadrant I, to represent an initial physical state (the photograph on the left).

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You can play on the complex plane above by dragging on either the red, purple, or orange handles. As you play around, the photograph will change size and proportion in accordance with the complex system state. This represents the intimate link between a complex variable and a physical system. In up coming lessons we will apply this simple concept to the more real world vibration example you saw on the home page.

Lesson 1 Summary
Imaginary numbers are used in real world applications to quantify physical characteristics. They are typically paired with real numbers to form a complex number, which is useful for describing two dimensional characteristics. Engineers like to plot two dimensional variables on the complex plane to get a visual snapshot of their system. In lesson 2 we will showcase the power of complex numbers in describing dynamic systems. Press on to learn more

Lesson Navigation
0. Home 1. Mapping Imaginary to Physical - Lesson 1 2. Complex Numbers and Dynamic Systems - Lesson 2 3. An Imaginary Number Application - Lesson 3 B. The Physical Link of the Imaginary Unit - Bonus Lesson Trackback del.icio.us digg

42 Responses to Mapping Imaginary to Physical - Lesson 1

1. Jenny Says:
June 9th, 2008 at 7:01 am

Love the 3D animations. First site Ive seen that really looks interactively at HOW imaginary

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numbers are used. Thanks!! 2. Bob Says:

October 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm

This 3D animation really inspired me to get a wife. We have been married for 50 years now and have a donkey. I love me and my car. Yaaayyyyyy 3. bchung Says:
October 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm

Glad it provided some inspiration. You must mean a new wife because the web was not around 50 years ago! 4. Billy Boy Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

I really love this website, its pretty much the bomb.com :DD 5. Bonita Says:
November 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

awesome dawg! i love math. imaginary numbers still dont make sense to me though. 6. Matt Says:
November 20th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

This is just great! 7. Ms. MathTeacher Says:

March 10th, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Hey I was looking around to find some ways to inspire my weak algebra students on the importance of the imaginary unit. However your site made me question it I understand needing a way to put two dimensions in one equation but what does sizing a picture have to do with the square root of negative 1? 8. bchung Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 8:52 am

Ms. Math Teacher: Sizing a photograph interactively is simply an intermediate step to illustrate that a variable can contain two dimensions. Internalizing the difference between one dimensional variables and two dimensional variables is a critical step to understanding complex numbers, and if we were to start with the actual application (electrical circuit, vibration motion, etc), getting that fundamental dimension concept across may be a non-starter. So the photograph concept is simply a way to get the idea across simply and easily via analogy. Once this concept is solid, we move through lessons 2,3, then the bonus lesson to show that in real world applications, the imaginary unit is the transformation that mathematically describes the link between the real and imaginary axes (see the bonus lesson). This last bonus lesson completes the picture assembling the two dimensional concept with how the imaginary unit links both dimensions mathematically. Hope this helps.

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9. Ukash Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 am

This site is great. Excellent job on the illustrations & interactive diagrams, everything is well explained, keep up the good work. Thank you 10. bchung Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:51 am

Thanks Ukash, Im still working ever so slowly but steadily on a highly interactive tutorial for an intuitive understanding of circuit analysis. Im excited about it but of course it has its tedious parts to get through. This kind of positive feedback keeps me going! 11. John Carlton Says:
February 17th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Awesome! This website makes math cool and fun to learn. I get off the bus and go on this site! 12. nas Says:
February 18th, 2010 at 1:47 pm

Ur amazing whoever u rkeep up the work> i really appreaciate it 13. Raul Says:
May 24th, 2010 at 9:06 am

Heyy yall, my name is Raul. Im sitting in math class just having a swell time learning about how imaginary numbers change how this little cutie pie looks in this picture. Love yall 14. Mike H Says:
October 20th, 2010 at 4:49 pm

Thanks so much for your work. I have a better understanding of imaginary numbers now, and that has helped me more than any of my college textbooks. 15. Stephen Says:
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:07 am

Wowthis is great! I teach Algebra II of all levels, and Ive found my answers to How do imaginary numbers apply in the real world? to be precursory, at best. Ill be sharing this site with my students. 16. tom Says:
May 17th, 2011 at 7:26 am

totally chumbo 17. Bob Jenkins Says:

September 25th, 2011 at 10:25 am

Wow 18. Jared DeVries Says:

November 1st, 2011 at 7:44 am

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Blue is my favorite color 19. blumpkin bob Says:

December 1st, 2011 at 7:12 am

this tickled my math fancy hard core style! i loved the interactive little asain girl, she is very lovely i would dance in the lilac fields of joy with this program! 20. Ben Dover Says:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:15 am

The only thing i dont understand about this is the math part The rest i get, but not the math.. 21. The king of limbs Says:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:20 am

Thanks 22. The king of limbs Says:

December 1st, 2011 at 7:21 am

imaginary number of the day: 23. The king of limbs Says:

December 1st, 2011 at 7:21 am

get it? cuz theres nothing there. and so its imaginary 24. ulga jeaves Says:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:23 am

Hoorah Hoorah! Math tickles the boombah! 25. frank jones Says:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:25 am

OMG this is the bomb.com 26. ulga jeaves Says:

December 1st, 2011 at 7:27 am

O.M.W Oh my word, guys!! I could have a math stroke with all this wonderous math games. Its pimpin yo. 27. your mom Says:
December 1st, 2011 at 7:30 am

All this math gives me a mathgasm. 28. Austin Steeves Says:

March 13th, 2012 at 9:39 am

i just cant get enough gravy 29. Derek Briggs Says:

March 13th, 2012 at 9:51 am

lets mash some potaoes

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30. http://www.5z5.com/Directory/Science/Academic Says:

May 3rd, 2012 at 7:10 am

Imagination is more important than knowledge, for knowledge is limited while imagination embraces the entire world. Words that weep and tears that speak. 31. Rafael Says:
June 6th, 2012 at 6:20 pm

the number -x^-1/2 was found trying to get solutions to an equation. So they called this solutions imaginary number. They also discovered that this numbers where a set of numbers just like the real numbers are. So they could put them in a numeric line and relate them to other numbers in a cartesian way or 90 degrees. I know that having the complex field we going to have the real solutions and the imaginary ones. Of course is a more complete coordinate system. But why two dimension variable? These are my asumptions.(they may be wrong please let me know) (1)In a real number cartesian coordinates i can have for example distance on the y axis and time on the x axis and relate them in an equation that gives me speed then i have a variable with two dimensions. (2) Why they used the complex cartesian for vibrations, sine cosine, damping signals, out of phase signals it is that this type of equations have a lot of imaginary solutions. I know that (e) exponential, (i) imaginary and sine and cosine have a relation I know it mathematicaly but not visually. Thanks for your site. It is a great site I have always have this questions about imaginary. And your site gave me the motivation to go back and start asking question again. Thanks 32. Anil Bansi Gaikwad Says:
June 12th, 2012 at 10:54 pm

hi, it is very useful website for student and i like this your meaningful website. my entrusted subject is maths. 33. brianna borghetti Says:
September 11th, 2012 at 9:42 am

i love me some imaginery numbas! 34. Malya Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 2:42 pm

you all are like the weird math geek squad. Like no kidding. JUST A BUNCH OF WIERDOS!!!!! Can you like this site on facebook? I think im gonna do that wierd nerd outcast day. 35. bruno Says:
November 19th, 2012 at 3:12 pm

i agree. If anyone else agrees say I. 36. Candace Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 3:13 pm

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 37. mandia Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 3:13 pm

i 38. carol Says:

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November 19th, 2012 at 3:13 pm

IIIIIIII 39. carol Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 3:14 pm

iiii 40. carol Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Dont be hatin on imginary things IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 41. bob Says:

November 19th, 2012 at 3:33 pm

Dont be hatin on imginary things IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII,,,, 42. john carlo balili Says:
December 4th, 2012 at 6:48 pm

kapoy

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18/12/2012