[ExI] imaginary numbers: RE: new entry from symphony of science

[Bill Hibbard]

Spike wrote:
> Here's a mathematical comment that will blow your mind
> if you think about it hard enough, and one which also
> has real world applications:
> 
> e^(i*pi) = -1
> 
> . . .
> But this is a very exciting equation!  It is a result
> of the fact that
> 
> e^(i*theta) = cosine(theta) + i*sin(theta)
> 
> !!
> 
> Is this cool or what?

Way cool, Spike. When I learned this stuff as a tadpole
I was fascinated by the fact that:

   i^i = e^(-pi/2) = 0.207879576...

is real.

Not only do complex variables have lots of practical uses,
they are also a source of great mathematical beauty.

Bill