Dictionary

imaginary number en · NOUN

Pronunciation

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Etymology

The adjective imaginary in this context was first used (as French imaginaire) by René Descartes in 1673, La Geometrie, referring to imaginary numbers in the broad sense, as non-real roots of polynomials. Descartes' usage was derogatory, but the concept later gained acceptance through the work of Leonhard Euler and Carl Friedrich Gauss in the 18th century.

Meanings

1. (strict-sense) A number of the form bi, where b is any real number and i denotes the imaginary unit.
   • If a#61;0, then x#61;ib is called an imaginary number. The message here is that we must introduce imaginary numbers in order to be able to solve quadratic equations in general. 2008, Donald A. McQuarrie, Mathematics for Physical Chemistry: Opening Doors, University Science Books, page 54:
2. (broadly) A number of the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and b is nonzero.

Forms

Hypernyms

complex number (both senses)

Hyponyms

pure imaginary number · purely imaginary number

Relateds

complex number · real number

Synonyms

purely imaginary number (sensu stricto)

Translations (51)

yue 虛數 /虚数 (number of the form bi) · pl liczba zespolona (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · de imaginäre Zahl (number of the form bi) · vi số ảo (number of the form bi) · th จำนวนจินตภาพ (number of the form bi) · nl imaginair getal (number of the form bi) · eo imaginara nombro (number of the form bi) · de rein imaginäre Zahl (number of the form bi) · is þvertala (number of the form bi) · lv imaginārs skaitlis (number of the form bi) · pl liczba urojona (number of the form bi) · la quantitas imaginaria (number of the form bi) · bg компле́ксно число́ (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · he מספר מרוכב (number of the form bi) · fr nombre imaginaire pur (number of the form bi) · cmn 純虛數 /纯虚数 (number of the form bi) · bg имагине́рно число́ (number of the form bi) · ja 虚数 (number of the form bi) · mi tau pohewa (number of the form bi) · fr nombre imaginaire (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · cmn 虛數 /虚数 (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · pt número puramente imaginário (number of the form bi) · sh imaginarni broj (number of the form bi) · km ចំនួននិម្មិត (number of the form bi) · da imaginært tal (number of the form bi) · uk уя́вне число́ (number of the form bi) · ka წარმოსახვითი რიცხვი (number of the form bi) · fa عدد موهومی (number of the form bi) · cmn 虛數 /虚数 (number of the form bi) · fi imaginaariluku (number of the form bi) · sv imaginärt tal (number of the form bi) · el φανταστικός αριθμός (number of the form bi) · hu imaginárius szám (number of the form bi) · ru мни́мое число́ (number of the form bi) · fi imaginääriluku (number of the form bi) · tr sanal sayı (number of the form bi) · tl gunimbilang (number of the form bi) · ca nombre imaginari (number of the form bi) · bn অবাস্তব সংখ্যা (number of the form bi) · fi imaginaariluku (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · ko 허수 (number of the form bi) · hy կեղծ թիվ (number of the form bi) · la numerus imaginarius (number of the form bi) · pt número imaginário (number of the form bi) · es número imaginario (number of the form bi) · kk жорамал сан (number of the form bi) · fi imaginääriluku (number of the form a + bi, with b ≠ 0) · cs imaginární číslo (number of the form bi) · hu képzetes szám (number of the form bi) · vi số thuần ảo (number of the form bi) · ml അവാസ്തവികസംഖ്യ (number of the form bi)

wikipedia: Leonhard Euler · wikipedia: Carl Friedrich Gauss · wikipedia: René Descartes