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Why do we call complex numbers “numbers” but we don’t consider 2 vectors numbers?


What exactly is a number?Relationship between complex number and vectorsAre there any numbers more fundamental than Complex numbers?Why are complex numbers considered to be numbers?Does it make sense to compare complex numbers in certain circumstances?Usefulness of alternative constructions of the complex numbersComplex numbers?Why are complex numbers so magical?What can complex numbers do that linear algebra cannot?complex numbers and rotation matricesIf there is anything else introduced into equations like the complex numbers.













4












$begingroup$


We refer to complex numbers as numbers. However we refer to vectors as arrays of numbers. There doesn’t seem to be anything that makes one more numeric than the other. Is this just a quirk of history and naming or is there something more fundamental?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    43 mins ago








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    What's a "number" anyway?
    $endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila
    31 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    22 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
    $endgroup$
    – user
    7 mins ago


















4












$begingroup$


We refer to complex numbers as numbers. However we refer to vectors as arrays of numbers. There doesn’t seem to be anything that makes one more numeric than the other. Is this just a quirk of history and naming or is there something more fundamental?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    43 mins ago








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    What's a "number" anyway?
    $endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila
    31 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    22 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
    $endgroup$
    – user
    7 mins ago
















4












4








4


1



$begingroup$


We refer to complex numbers as numbers. However we refer to vectors as arrays of numbers. There doesn’t seem to be anything that makes one more numeric than the other. Is this just a quirk of history and naming or is there something more fundamental?










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




We refer to complex numbers as numbers. However we refer to vectors as arrays of numbers. There doesn’t seem to be anything that makes one more numeric than the other. Is this just a quirk of history and naming or is there something more fundamental?







matrices complex-numbers philosophy






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 15 mins ago









Bernard

122k740116




122k740116










asked 48 mins ago









Q the PlatypusQ the Platypus

2,782933




2,782933








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    43 mins ago








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    What's a "number" anyway?
    $endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila
    31 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    22 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
    $endgroup$
    – user
    7 mins ago
















  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    43 mins ago








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    What's a "number" anyway?
    $endgroup$
    – Asaf Karagila
    31 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    22 mins ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    @QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
    $endgroup$
    – Nate Eldredge
    15 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
    $endgroup$
    – user
    7 mins ago










5




5




$begingroup$
Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
43 mins ago






$begingroup$
Usually, the difference would be whether you're in a context where complex multiplication would be interesting. It's kind of like the question: is $mathbb{Z}$ a group or a ring? It depends on which operations are of interest for the question you're studying.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
43 mins ago






2




2




$begingroup$
What's a "number" anyway?
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila
31 mins ago




$begingroup$
What's a "number" anyway?
$endgroup$
– Asaf Karagila
31 mins ago












$begingroup$
I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
$endgroup$
– Q the Platypus
22 mins ago




$begingroup$
I would say that $mathbb{Z}$ is not a ring or a group as you have to have an operator in order to be a magma. However that would be over pedantic so I get where you are coming from.
$endgroup$
– Q the Platypus
22 mins ago




2




2




$begingroup$
@QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
15 mins ago




$begingroup$
@QthePlatypus: No, that's exactly the point. The question of whether the set $mathbb{R}^2$ of pairs of real numbers should be considered as the set of complex numbers, or as a set of vectors, depends on which operations you wish to equip that set with.
$endgroup$
– Nate Eldredge
15 mins ago












$begingroup$
I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
$endgroup$
– user
7 mins ago






$begingroup$
I think the correct question were: is there a rigorous definition of the object "number" (without further characteristics such as "integer", "real", "complex" etc.)?
$endgroup$
– user
7 mins ago












4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5












$begingroup$

The two fundamental operations for numbers are "addition" and "multiplication" which obey very nice "laws" of arithmetic. Taking powers is also important. You can do all of those things with complex numbers. You can add two vectors but the "dot" product of two vectors is not a vector and the "cross" product of two vectors does not satisfy the "nice laws". Neither the dot product nor the cross product of vectors can be used to define powers.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    30 mins ago






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
    $endgroup$
    – user247327
    22 mins ago



















0












$begingroup$

Complex numbers do not have the same properties as vectors but they have similar properties (see dot product). We can represent complex numbers as vectors, but that is just a representation.



Complex numbers are also called imaginary numbers because the first appearance of them was quite confusing. They appeared in the solution of the cubic equation for the case of three distinct real roots. It took quite a time until people understood that they could calculate with complex numbers like with normal numbers but will some additional rules e.g. $i^2=-1$.



Complex numbers also do not have a comparison operator like $<$ or $>$. For example, assume
$i<0$ then $icdot i > 0 implies -1>0$ which is wrong. $i=0$ makes no sense. And $i>0$ then $icdot i >0 implies -1 >0$ which is wrong.



Hence, the name makes sense as these numbers have some imaginary or complex behavior which normal numbers do not show.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    34 mins ago



















0












$begingroup$

Numbers appeared first when we started to count things. $1$ tree, $2$ trees, $3$ trees, and so forth. That make up the set of non-zero natural numbers: $mathbb{N}$. Afterwards, people started to "count backwards" to get $mathbb{Z}$ (I'm just kidding, you can do some research on how negative numbers appeared historically). With the urge to divide things without remainders, the set of rational numbers $mathbb{Q}$ made its way to the world. A certain idea of geometric continuity gives us $mathbb{R}$. Finally we want all equations to have a root, that's how $mathbb{C}$ comes into play.



I guess what is considered "numbers" is rather a social question. The use of $mathbb{C}$
in physics and its $2$-D representation must have given a good intuition for a large set of people to accept it's intuitive enough to be considered "numbers".



I think it's not that natural to think of $mathbb{C}$ as a $mathbb{R}$-vector space of dimension $2$, not more natural than to think of $mathbb{R}$ as an infinite-dimensional $mathbb{Q}$-vector space, nor of $mathbb{Q}$ as a non-infinitely-generated $mathbb{Z}$-module.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$









  • 2




    $begingroup$
    People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    16 mins ago










  • $begingroup$
    Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
    $endgroup$
    – Leaning
    15 mins ago





















0












$begingroup$

They're called "numbers" for historical reasons, since the motivation in the development of the complex numbers was solving polynomial equations. They were viewed as natural extensions of the real numbers. It's somehow quite natural and satisfying to say "every polynomial equation can be solved by some (complex) number". Is it more natural to regard $i$ as being a number which, when squared, is equal to $-1$, or is it more natural to regard $i$ as being some non-number thingamajig which when squared is equal to $-1$? Clearly the former.



"Higher" number system, like quaternions, aren't really called numbers very often, for the simple fact that they are not as intimately connected with number theory and analysis in the same way that complex numbers are.



Beyond these social conventions, I can't see any other reason. The word "number" doesn't have a strict or absolute definition in pure mathematics. $mathbb{N}$, $mathbb{Z}$, $mathbb{Q}$, $mathbb{R}$ and $mathbb{C}$ are technically just sets with a certain algebraic structure.



I partially disagree with the other answers which claim that complex numbers are numbers simply by virtue of the fact that you can add and multiply them. Well, if that's the rationale, is every ring also a set of numbers?






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    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes








    4 Answers
    4






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5












    $begingroup$

    The two fundamental operations for numbers are "addition" and "multiplication" which obey very nice "laws" of arithmetic. Taking powers is also important. You can do all of those things with complex numbers. You can add two vectors but the "dot" product of two vectors is not a vector and the "cross" product of two vectors does not satisfy the "nice laws". Neither the dot product nor the cross product of vectors can be used to define powers.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      30 mins ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
      $endgroup$
      – user247327
      22 mins ago
















    5












    $begingroup$

    The two fundamental operations for numbers are "addition" and "multiplication" which obey very nice "laws" of arithmetic. Taking powers is also important. You can do all of those things with complex numbers. You can add two vectors but the "dot" product of two vectors is not a vector and the "cross" product of two vectors does not satisfy the "nice laws". Neither the dot product nor the cross product of vectors can be used to define powers.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      30 mins ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
      $endgroup$
      – user247327
      22 mins ago














    5












    5








    5





    $begingroup$

    The two fundamental operations for numbers are "addition" and "multiplication" which obey very nice "laws" of arithmetic. Taking powers is also important. You can do all of those things with complex numbers. You can add two vectors but the "dot" product of two vectors is not a vector and the "cross" product of two vectors does not satisfy the "nice laws". Neither the dot product nor the cross product of vectors can be used to define powers.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    The two fundamental operations for numbers are "addition" and "multiplication" which obey very nice "laws" of arithmetic. Taking powers is also important. You can do all of those things with complex numbers. You can add two vectors but the "dot" product of two vectors is not a vector and the "cross" product of two vectors does not satisfy the "nice laws". Neither the dot product nor the cross product of vectors can be used to define powers.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered 34 mins ago









    user247327user247327

    11.3k1515




    11.3k1515












    • $begingroup$
      So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      30 mins ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
      $endgroup$
      – user247327
      22 mins ago


















    • $begingroup$
      So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      30 mins ago






    • 3




      $begingroup$
      That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
      $endgroup$
      – user247327
      22 mins ago
















    $begingroup$
    So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    30 mins ago




    $begingroup$
    So Quaternions which have Non commutativity multiplication would also be considered as non numbers?
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    30 mins ago




    3




    3




    $begingroup$
    That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
    $endgroup$
    – user247327
    22 mins ago




    $begingroup$
    That's a good point- though I have never liked quaternions! Multiplication of quaternions is not commutative but it is associative which allows powers. That's what I was really thinking of.
    $endgroup$
    – user247327
    22 mins ago











    0












    $begingroup$

    Complex numbers do not have the same properties as vectors but they have similar properties (see dot product). We can represent complex numbers as vectors, but that is just a representation.



    Complex numbers are also called imaginary numbers because the first appearance of them was quite confusing. They appeared in the solution of the cubic equation for the case of three distinct real roots. It took quite a time until people understood that they could calculate with complex numbers like with normal numbers but will some additional rules e.g. $i^2=-1$.



    Complex numbers also do not have a comparison operator like $<$ or $>$. For example, assume
    $i<0$ then $icdot i > 0 implies -1>0$ which is wrong. $i=0$ makes no sense. And $i>0$ then $icdot i >0 implies -1 >0$ which is wrong.



    Hence, the name makes sense as these numbers have some imaginary or complex behavior which normal numbers do not show.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      34 mins ago
















    0












    $begingroup$

    Complex numbers do not have the same properties as vectors but they have similar properties (see dot product). We can represent complex numbers as vectors, but that is just a representation.



    Complex numbers are also called imaginary numbers because the first appearance of them was quite confusing. They appeared in the solution of the cubic equation for the case of three distinct real roots. It took quite a time until people understood that they could calculate with complex numbers like with normal numbers but will some additional rules e.g. $i^2=-1$.



    Complex numbers also do not have a comparison operator like $<$ or $>$. For example, assume
    $i<0$ then $icdot i > 0 implies -1>0$ which is wrong. $i=0$ makes no sense. And $i>0$ then $icdot i >0 implies -1 >0$ which is wrong.



    Hence, the name makes sense as these numbers have some imaginary or complex behavior which normal numbers do not show.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      34 mins ago














    0












    0








    0





    $begingroup$

    Complex numbers do not have the same properties as vectors but they have similar properties (see dot product). We can represent complex numbers as vectors, but that is just a representation.



    Complex numbers are also called imaginary numbers because the first appearance of them was quite confusing. They appeared in the solution of the cubic equation for the case of three distinct real roots. It took quite a time until people understood that they could calculate with complex numbers like with normal numbers but will some additional rules e.g. $i^2=-1$.



    Complex numbers also do not have a comparison operator like $<$ or $>$. For example, assume
    $i<0$ then $icdot i > 0 implies -1>0$ which is wrong. $i=0$ makes no sense. And $i>0$ then $icdot i >0 implies -1 >0$ which is wrong.



    Hence, the name makes sense as these numbers have some imaginary or complex behavior which normal numbers do not show.






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    Complex numbers do not have the same properties as vectors but they have similar properties (see dot product). We can represent complex numbers as vectors, but that is just a representation.



    Complex numbers are also called imaginary numbers because the first appearance of them was quite confusing. They appeared in the solution of the cubic equation for the case of three distinct real roots. It took quite a time until people understood that they could calculate with complex numbers like with normal numbers but will some additional rules e.g. $i^2=-1$.



    Complex numbers also do not have a comparison operator like $<$ or $>$. For example, assume
    $i<0$ then $icdot i > 0 implies -1>0$ which is wrong. $i=0$ makes no sense. And $i>0$ then $icdot i >0 implies -1 >0$ which is wrong.



    Hence, the name makes sense as these numbers have some imaginary or complex behavior which normal numbers do not show.







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered 39 mins ago









    MachineLearnerMachineLearner

    4977




    4977








    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      34 mins ago














    • 2




      $begingroup$
      I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      34 mins ago








    2




    2




    $begingroup$
    I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    34 mins ago




    $begingroup$
    I’m not asking why complex numbers are call complex. I am asking why they are called numbers. BTW they are not called complex numbers because they are difficult but because complex can mean “made up of parts” like a “shopping complex”.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    34 mins ago











    0












    $begingroup$

    Numbers appeared first when we started to count things. $1$ tree, $2$ trees, $3$ trees, and so forth. That make up the set of non-zero natural numbers: $mathbb{N}$. Afterwards, people started to "count backwards" to get $mathbb{Z}$ (I'm just kidding, you can do some research on how negative numbers appeared historically). With the urge to divide things without remainders, the set of rational numbers $mathbb{Q}$ made its way to the world. A certain idea of geometric continuity gives us $mathbb{R}$. Finally we want all equations to have a root, that's how $mathbb{C}$ comes into play.



    I guess what is considered "numbers" is rather a social question. The use of $mathbb{C}$
    in physics and its $2$-D representation must have given a good intuition for a large set of people to accept it's intuitive enough to be considered "numbers".



    I think it's not that natural to think of $mathbb{C}$ as a $mathbb{R}$-vector space of dimension $2$, not more natural than to think of $mathbb{R}$ as an infinite-dimensional $mathbb{Q}$-vector space, nor of $mathbb{Q}$ as a non-infinitely-generated $mathbb{Z}$-module.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$









    • 2




      $begingroup$
      People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      16 mins ago










    • $begingroup$
      Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
      $endgroup$
      – Leaning
      15 mins ago


















    0












    $begingroup$

    Numbers appeared first when we started to count things. $1$ tree, $2$ trees, $3$ trees, and so forth. That make up the set of non-zero natural numbers: $mathbb{N}$. Afterwards, people started to "count backwards" to get $mathbb{Z}$ (I'm just kidding, you can do some research on how negative numbers appeared historically). With the urge to divide things without remainders, the set of rational numbers $mathbb{Q}$ made its way to the world. A certain idea of geometric continuity gives us $mathbb{R}$. Finally we want all equations to have a root, that's how $mathbb{C}$ comes into play.



    I guess what is considered "numbers" is rather a social question. The use of $mathbb{C}$
    in physics and its $2$-D representation must have given a good intuition for a large set of people to accept it's intuitive enough to be considered "numbers".



    I think it's not that natural to think of $mathbb{C}$ as a $mathbb{R}$-vector space of dimension $2$, not more natural than to think of $mathbb{R}$ as an infinite-dimensional $mathbb{Q}$-vector space, nor of $mathbb{Q}$ as a non-infinitely-generated $mathbb{Z}$-module.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$









    • 2




      $begingroup$
      People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      16 mins ago










    • $begingroup$
      Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
      $endgroup$
      – Leaning
      15 mins ago
















    0












    0








    0





    $begingroup$

    Numbers appeared first when we started to count things. $1$ tree, $2$ trees, $3$ trees, and so forth. That make up the set of non-zero natural numbers: $mathbb{N}$. Afterwards, people started to "count backwards" to get $mathbb{Z}$ (I'm just kidding, you can do some research on how negative numbers appeared historically). With the urge to divide things without remainders, the set of rational numbers $mathbb{Q}$ made its way to the world. A certain idea of geometric continuity gives us $mathbb{R}$. Finally we want all equations to have a root, that's how $mathbb{C}$ comes into play.



    I guess what is considered "numbers" is rather a social question. The use of $mathbb{C}$
    in physics and its $2$-D representation must have given a good intuition for a large set of people to accept it's intuitive enough to be considered "numbers".



    I think it's not that natural to think of $mathbb{C}$ as a $mathbb{R}$-vector space of dimension $2$, not more natural than to think of $mathbb{R}$ as an infinite-dimensional $mathbb{Q}$-vector space, nor of $mathbb{Q}$ as a non-infinitely-generated $mathbb{Z}$-module.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$



    Numbers appeared first when we started to count things. $1$ tree, $2$ trees, $3$ trees, and so forth. That make up the set of non-zero natural numbers: $mathbb{N}$. Afterwards, people started to "count backwards" to get $mathbb{Z}$ (I'm just kidding, you can do some research on how negative numbers appeared historically). With the urge to divide things without remainders, the set of rational numbers $mathbb{Q}$ made its way to the world. A certain idea of geometric continuity gives us $mathbb{R}$. Finally we want all equations to have a root, that's how $mathbb{C}$ comes into play.



    I guess what is considered "numbers" is rather a social question. The use of $mathbb{C}$
    in physics and its $2$-D representation must have given a good intuition for a large set of people to accept it's intuitive enough to be considered "numbers".



    I think it's not that natural to think of $mathbb{C}$ as a $mathbb{R}$-vector space of dimension $2$, not more natural than to think of $mathbb{R}$ as an infinite-dimensional $mathbb{Q}$-vector space, nor of $mathbb{Q}$ as a non-infinitely-generated $mathbb{Z}$-module.







    share|cite|improve this answer














    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer








    edited 15 mins ago

























    answered 19 mins ago









    LeaningLeaning

    1,221718




    1,221718








    • 2




      $begingroup$
      People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      16 mins ago










    • $begingroup$
      Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
      $endgroup$
      – Leaning
      15 mins ago
















    • 2




      $begingroup$
      People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
      $endgroup$
      – Q the Platypus
      16 mins ago










    • $begingroup$
      Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
      $endgroup$
      – Leaning
      15 mins ago










    2




    2




    $begingroup$
    People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    16 mins ago




    $begingroup$
    People do think of complex numbers as points on the number plane.
    $endgroup$
    – Q the Platypus
    16 mins ago












    $begingroup$
    Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
    $endgroup$
    – Leaning
    15 mins ago






    $begingroup$
    Thank you. I'm sorry, that final part is just a personal opinion. edited.
    $endgroup$
    – Leaning
    15 mins ago













    0












    $begingroup$

    They're called "numbers" for historical reasons, since the motivation in the development of the complex numbers was solving polynomial equations. They were viewed as natural extensions of the real numbers. It's somehow quite natural and satisfying to say "every polynomial equation can be solved by some (complex) number". Is it more natural to regard $i$ as being a number which, when squared, is equal to $-1$, or is it more natural to regard $i$ as being some non-number thingamajig which when squared is equal to $-1$? Clearly the former.



    "Higher" number system, like quaternions, aren't really called numbers very often, for the simple fact that they are not as intimately connected with number theory and analysis in the same way that complex numbers are.



    Beyond these social conventions, I can't see any other reason. The word "number" doesn't have a strict or absolute definition in pure mathematics. $mathbb{N}$, $mathbb{Z}$, $mathbb{Q}$, $mathbb{R}$ and $mathbb{C}$ are technically just sets with a certain algebraic structure.



    I partially disagree with the other answers which claim that complex numbers are numbers simply by virtue of the fact that you can add and multiply them. Well, if that's the rationale, is every ring also a set of numbers?






    share|cite









    $endgroup$


















      0












      $begingroup$

      They're called "numbers" for historical reasons, since the motivation in the development of the complex numbers was solving polynomial equations. They were viewed as natural extensions of the real numbers. It's somehow quite natural and satisfying to say "every polynomial equation can be solved by some (complex) number". Is it more natural to regard $i$ as being a number which, when squared, is equal to $-1$, or is it more natural to regard $i$ as being some non-number thingamajig which when squared is equal to $-1$? Clearly the former.



      "Higher" number system, like quaternions, aren't really called numbers very often, for the simple fact that they are not as intimately connected with number theory and analysis in the same way that complex numbers are.



      Beyond these social conventions, I can't see any other reason. The word "number" doesn't have a strict or absolute definition in pure mathematics. $mathbb{N}$, $mathbb{Z}$, $mathbb{Q}$, $mathbb{R}$ and $mathbb{C}$ are technically just sets with a certain algebraic structure.



      I partially disagree with the other answers which claim that complex numbers are numbers simply by virtue of the fact that you can add and multiply them. Well, if that's the rationale, is every ring also a set of numbers?






      share|cite









      $endgroup$
















        0












        0








        0





        $begingroup$

        They're called "numbers" for historical reasons, since the motivation in the development of the complex numbers was solving polynomial equations. They were viewed as natural extensions of the real numbers. It's somehow quite natural and satisfying to say "every polynomial equation can be solved by some (complex) number". Is it more natural to regard $i$ as being a number which, when squared, is equal to $-1$, or is it more natural to regard $i$ as being some non-number thingamajig which when squared is equal to $-1$? Clearly the former.



        "Higher" number system, like quaternions, aren't really called numbers very often, for the simple fact that they are not as intimately connected with number theory and analysis in the same way that complex numbers are.



        Beyond these social conventions, I can't see any other reason. The word "number" doesn't have a strict or absolute definition in pure mathematics. $mathbb{N}$, $mathbb{Z}$, $mathbb{Q}$, $mathbb{R}$ and $mathbb{C}$ are technically just sets with a certain algebraic structure.



        I partially disagree with the other answers which claim that complex numbers are numbers simply by virtue of the fact that you can add and multiply them. Well, if that's the rationale, is every ring also a set of numbers?






        share|cite









        $endgroup$



        They're called "numbers" for historical reasons, since the motivation in the development of the complex numbers was solving polynomial equations. They were viewed as natural extensions of the real numbers. It's somehow quite natural and satisfying to say "every polynomial equation can be solved by some (complex) number". Is it more natural to regard $i$ as being a number which, when squared, is equal to $-1$, or is it more natural to regard $i$ as being some non-number thingamajig which when squared is equal to $-1$? Clearly the former.



        "Higher" number system, like quaternions, aren't really called numbers very often, for the simple fact that they are not as intimately connected with number theory and analysis in the same way that complex numbers are.



        Beyond these social conventions, I can't see any other reason. The word "number" doesn't have a strict or absolute definition in pure mathematics. $mathbb{N}$, $mathbb{Z}$, $mathbb{Q}$, $mathbb{R}$ and $mathbb{C}$ are technically just sets with a certain algebraic structure.



        I partially disagree with the other answers which claim that complex numbers are numbers simply by virtue of the fact that you can add and multiply them. Well, if that's the rationale, is every ring also a set of numbers?







        share|cite












        share|cite



        share|cite










        answered 9 mins ago









        MathematicsStudent1122MathematicsStudent1122

        8,69122467




        8,69122467






























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