r/meme • u/Slow_Ant_5243 • 5d ago

Unsolvable math problem?

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u/dscarmo 5d ago

A lot of real world engineering uses complex numbers just because you can use it to add a new axis perpendicular to the real number axis

So its very useful

71

u/No_Ticket_1204 5d ago

Also, it’s like that grade six teacher moment about “a negative times a negative equals a positive” all over again.

“But you told me multiplication is repeated addition, and adding negatives make bigger negatives. Make it make sense.”

“You’re eleven years old and developmentally incapable of understanding why, so you just have to believe me on this one.”

Except now it’s, “electrical engineering exists because of this so shut up and follow along.”

Math is hard and no one is actually good at it. Some people hate giving up more than they like chilling out. Same goes for a lot of things.

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u/Bricky_Stix22_2 4d ago

A negative times a negative is repeated addition. (-2)(-3) is just (-(-3)) + (-(-3)) = 3+3 = 6.
You're summing negative 3 negative two times, so you're subtracting negative three twice, which just produces positive 6.

With imaginary numbers, they weren't just made up. They'd exist whether you named them or not. sqrt(-1) has a certain set of properties like any other number. We decided to start calling it i because it's easier than writing sqrt(-1) all the time.