What is an Imaginary Number?

What is an Imaginary Number?

Note:

Imaginary numbers are used to help us work with numbers that involve taking the square root of a negative number. In this tutorial, you'll be introduced to imaginary numbers and learn that they're a type of complex number.

Keywords:

  • imaginary number
  • numbers
  • square root
  • complex
  • i
  • definition
  • pure imaginary number

Background Tutorials

  • Definitions and Properties of Square Roots

      • What is the Product Property of Square Roots?What is the Product Property of Square Roots?

      What is the Product Property of Square Roots?

      The product property of square roots is really helpful when you're simplifying radicals. This property lets you take a square root of a product of numbers and break up the radical into the product of separate square roots. Check out this tutorial and learn about the product property of square roots!

  • Real Number Definitions

      • What's a Real Number?What's a Real Number?

      What's a Real Number?

      Real numbers are numbers that can be found on the number line. This includes both the rational and irrational numbers. This tutorial explains real numbers and gives some great examples. Take a look!

  • Powers and Exponents

      • How Do You Square a Number?How Do You Square a Number?

      How Do You Square a Number?

      Want to square a number? Just take the number and multiply it by itself! If you square an integer, you get a perfect square! Check out squaring in this tutorial!

  • Defining Quadratic Equations

      • What is a Quadratic Equation?What is a Quadratic Equation?

      What is a Quadratic Equation?

      You can't go through algebra without seeing quadratic equations. The graphs of quadratic equations are parabolas; they tend to look like a smile or a frown. There's also a bunch of ways to solve these equations! Watch this tutorial and get introduced to quadratic equations!

  • Imaginary and Complex Numbers

      • What is the Imaginary Unit i?What is the Imaginary Unit i?

      What is the Imaginary Unit i?

      Every tried to take the square root of a negative number? You'll need the imaginary unit 'i' to write the answer. This tutorial introduces you to this useful imaginary unit.

Further Exploration

  • Imaginary and Complex Numbers

      • How Do You Multiply Pure Imaginary Numbers?How Do You Multiply Pure Imaginary Numbers?

      How Do You Multiply Pure Imaginary Numbers?

      You can multiply imaginary numbers like you multiply variables. Just remember that 'i' isn't a variable, it's an imaginary unit! This tutorial shows you the steps to find the product of pure imaginary numbers.