imaginary unit

Also known as i, ι, unit imaginary number, j

square root of negative one, used to define complex numbers

AI overview

The imaginary unit is a mathematical tool defined as the square root of negative one, which ordinarily has no solution in everyday numbers. It's used to create complex numbers, a broader number system that extends mathematics beyond what regular numbers alone can express.

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Wikidata facts

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numeric value: 1

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Article

The imaginary unit i in the complex plane: Real numbers are conventionally drawn on the horizontal axis and imaginary numbers on the vertical axis.

The imaginary unit, usually denoted by i, is a mathematical constant that is a solution to the quadratic equation x = −1, which is not solved by any real number. Any real-number multiple of the imaginary unit is called an imaginary number.