News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:What are imaginary numbers? by friendlyfrog on Friday September 21, 2012 @01:48PM (#4554808)
It's not arbitrary. It comes directly from the axiomatics.
Re:What are imaginary numbers? by revelation on Friday September 21, 2012 @01:56PM (#4554848)
Axiomatics are entirely arbitrary if you will. Thats the whole point: I restrict myself to some basic rules only because that allows me to show other potentially useful things, consequences and applications.