Guest Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Mentioned by Descartes in a book Derogatory at first but not now, look! It isn't real but isn't false Accepted now without any faults Descartes used it incorrectly, but started a fascination indirectly Rafael started it but didn't have success Until Leonard and Carl stepped up to the test Their work made it an acceptable piece Although I do admit J is probably pleased What am I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 DudleyDude Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 i - imaginary numbers (sqare root of -1) Descartes came up with the term 'imaginary number' but never found use for them. Rafael Bombelli also worked with them but wasn't able to convince the world that they were worthwhile. Leonard Euler and Carl Gauss both used imaginary numbers to solve real problems I couldn't find a good answer for who 'J' refers to though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 That was quick! As far as I know, both I and J can be used to represent imaginary numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 how did you manage to come up with a rhyme for this...that was cooler than the Q and A itself!!!....good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Guest Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest
Mentioned by Descartes in a book
Derogatory at first but not now, look!
It isn't real but isn't false
Accepted now without any faults
Descartes used it incorrectly,
but started a fascination indirectly
Rafael started it but didn't have success
Until Leonard and Carl stepped up to the test
Their work made it
an acceptable piece
Although I do admit
J is probably pleased
What am I?
Link to comment
Share on other sites
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