Engineering (especially electrical engineering), Math, Physics mainly.
Physics (e.g., quantum mechanics, relativity, other subfields) makes use of imaginary numbers. "Complex analysis" (i.e., calculus that includes imaginary numbers) can also be used to evaluate difficult integrals and to perform other mathematical tricks. Engineering, especially Electrical Engineering makes use of complex and imaginary numbers to simplify analysis of some circuits and waveforms.
Complex numbers can help visualize physical effects like the electromagnetic fields around wires carrying current. Refer to the link below.
The 16th century Italian mathematician, Gerolamo Cardano was the first to use imaginary and complex numbers in his work on cubic equations.
As with many other topics of advanced math, it depends whether your "real life" includes working in some engineering area, or not. If you work in electrical engineering or electronics, you will use complex numbers on a daily basis; similarly if you do a lot of math for some reason.Complex Numbers (ones involving the imaginary unit 'i' which is defined to handle the square root of -1) are a convenient way to describe the behavior of some electric circuits and waves.One thing you may encounter in your 'real life' are uninterruptible power supplies (UPS - what keeps your computer running when the power goes out). You will see ratings such as 500 VA / 300 W. This has to do with Complex Power. Electric circuits, which have inductances (such as transformers and electric motors) or capacitors, behave in a way that is described by complex numbers. While Volts X Amps equals Watts, the 300 W is the 'real power' (the amount available to do work), and the 500 VA is the apparent power (the total power that the power supply is capable of producing). The reactive power (due to capacitance & inductance) is represented by the imaginary component and it is at right angles to the real power (represented by the real component).Another use of complex numbers is in the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) - one of the most ubiquitous algorithms - used heavily for signal processing. If you have a digital camera, a cell phone, an LCD - FFT is there, bringing complex numbers along.The complex equation w=z+1/z is a basic formula used for designing air foils-airplane wings and Figuring out flow forces around a circular object in water for instance.Please see the related links for details.
I suggest you read the Wikipedia article con complex numbers, specifically the section "Applications". One example is electrical engineering: in the case of AC, it helps to express all voltages, currents and impedances (equivalent of resistances) as complex numbers.
As well as their use within mathematics, complex numbers have practical applications in many fields, including physics, chemistry, biology, economics, electrical engineering, and statistics.
Engineering (especially electrical engineering), Math, Physics mainly.
The imaginary axis is used in the definition of the complex numbers. Complex numbers are used in many fields in engineering, in particular - electric engineering, aerodynamics, acoustics etc.
Various engineering fields will use them. Electricity and electronics.
There are numerous applications; you should read the Wikipedia article on complex numbers for more examples. Some applications include: Get a better understanding of math. Even if you do calculations with real numbers, working with complex numbers often gives a greater understanding.Electricity, with AC, uses complex quantitites.Quantum physicsArt - ever seen the Mandelbrot set, or other fractals?There are numerous applications; you should read the Wikipedia article on complex numbers for more examples. Some applications include: Get a better understanding of math. Even if you do calculations with real numbers, working with complex numbers often gives a greater understanding.Electricity, with AC, uses complex quantitites.Quantum physicsArt - ever seen the Mandelbrot set, or other fractals?There are numerous applications; you should read the Wikipedia article on complex numbers for more examples. Some applications include: Get a better understanding of math. Even if you do calculations with real numbers, working with complex numbers often gives a greater understanding.Electricity, with AC, uses complex quantitites.Quantum physicsArt - ever seen the Mandelbrot set, or other fractals?There are numerous applications; you should read the Wikipedia article on complex numbers for more examples. Some applications include: Get a better understanding of math. Even if you do calculations with real numbers, working with complex numbers often gives a greater understanding.Electricity, with AC, uses complex quantitites.Quantum physicsArt - ever seen the Mandelbrot set, or other fractals?
Physics (e.g., quantum mechanics, relativity, other subfields) makes use of imaginary numbers. "Complex analysis" (i.e., calculus that includes imaginary numbers) can also be used to evaluate difficult integrals and to perform other mathematical tricks. Engineering, especially Electrical Engineering makes use of complex and imaginary numbers to simplify analysis of some circuits and waveforms.
Complex numbers are theoretically interesting; they help us better understand the real numbers in some cases.They also have some very practical applications, including: * Electrical circuits - in AC, things like resistance, current, and voltage acquire a phase angle, thus becoming complex numbers. * Quantum mechanics - the probability amplitude is described with a complex number. As a result, complex numbers basically permeate all of quantum mechanics.
Imaginary numbers are a mathematical concept, first defined to handle the square root of negative numbers. At first, many mathematicians did not think very kindly of them, until Euler's formula in the 1700's, then later applications in electricity and wave analysis were recognized.Complex numbers are numbers on a plane, for which special which special operations are defined. Complex numbers have a real part, and an imaginary part.There are several practical applications; for example, electrical engineers use complex numbers for circuit calculations with AC. There are other applications, too; for example, in art (creating interesting patterns, called fractals - based on calculations with complex numbers). Quantum mechanics routinely uses complex numbers.The Wikipedia article on complex numbers gives a good overview.The Picomonster website has some cool animations which show complex and imaginary numbers 'in action', so to speak.
It is use to fail the engineering students in final exam.... best use of it to make the student,s life hell....
Complex numbers are the square roots of negative numbers. i.e. root -1 = i
It is as significant now as it has ever been. It is one of the fundamental numbers of mathematics. There are not many applications of advanced math or engineering sciences that would never encounter a use for pi.