How are imaginary numbers used in the creation of fractals?
Q. How are imaginary numbers used in the creation of fractals? I know they're part of the complex number that is used to start the iteration process, but is there more to it than that?
Asked by Vercatosso - Sat Dec 12 17:14:45 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The Mandelbrot Set is the most famous fractal defined by imaginary numbers. The limit of the recursion z(n+1) = [z(n)]^2 + c is calculated for various values of c. If the recursion tends to infinity, then c is not in the set. If the limit converges, the c is in the set. More complex functions are used to create different sets.
Answered by Brian - Sat Dec 12 17:26:54 2009

When would you ever have to use imaginary numbers in life?
Q. I'm learning about imaginary numbers in Algebra II right now, and I'm thinking, what's the point? If the numbers are imaginary and don't really exist, then why must we learn about them? When would we ever have to use these kinds of numbers in life, like in a job or career of some sort, if they're imaginary and don't exist? Also, if you know how and why these numbers are used in those careers, then please do tell. Thanks.
Asked by Ari Bo Bari - Fri Oct 19 13:28:19 2007 - - 11 Answers - 1 Comments

A. Don't let the name fool you. Imaginary numbers do have real life uses. Together, the use of imaginary numbers with the real numbers to make numbers of the form a+bi form the complex numbers, to which the real numbers a+0i is simply a subset of. In fact, the natural numbers, rational numbers, integers, and real numbers are as much of an invention as the complex numbers are. We first started using natural numbers to quantify discrete quantities such as how many apples are in the basket. This number system serves its purpose here well, but it has its limitations. For instance, what if you want to discriminate between having 4 apples and owing 4 apples? Or gaining 4 more apples versus losing 4 more apples? This is when we invented the… [cont.]
Answered by J Bareil - Fri Oct 19 14:10:09 2007

What is the "philosophy" that regards mental problems or mental illness as imaginary?
Q. Remember a while back (a couple of years I think) when Tom Cruise made a comment about Brooke Shields and her post partum depression saying it wasn't a real problem but that she could just "decide" for herself to not be depressed? I don't know to better describe it. There is a "philosophy" that says that mental illness is imaginary.
Asked by timbrock123 - Sat Dec 22 06:43:58 2007 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Scientology.
Answered by Zeak - Sat Dec 22 06:56:04 2007