Strogatz Unravels the Complexities of Complex Numbers

March 9, 2010

"The story of [mathematicians’] struggle to find the ‘roots’ — the solutions — of increasingly complicated equations is one of the great epics in the history of human thought," Steven Strogatz wrote in this week's New York Times column, which covered the complexities of complex numbers and their utility.

Once dismissed as fictitious, complex numbers have real-world applications in engineering, from calculating the lift on an airplane wing to analyzing the vibrations of cars driving on bumpy roads. Their applications are apparent if you have the imagination to visualize them. With Strogatz's help, everyone can.

Read the full article here.