Imaginary

ImaginaryThis book is not intended to describe any particular mathematical knowledge called imaginary numbers. It tries to expand mathematical thinking by suggesting why imagination is necessary in mathematics and by engaging readers in imagination. Since no difficult mathematics appears at all, anyone can enjoy the pleasure of imagining beyond the threshold of mathematics. Paradoxically, to satisfy the real world satisfactorily, imagination, the imaginary number, is essential. So how did mathematicians introduce the elusive number of imaginary numbers into mathematics? The author, Barry Mazur, traces the process of accepting Imaginary, which has many twists and turns, leads readers who are not familiar with mathematics to the world of mathematical imagination. By comparing literary imagination with mathematical imagination, he attempts to reveal the subtle link between them. Mathematics, literature, and at first glance seem to be completely separate fields, but both have similarities in terms of imagination and transition of ideas.Mazur wrote this book for readers who "want to experience mathematical imagination and compare it to the imagination used to read and understand verses." Not only mathematicians, but also literary enthusiasts who have had a difficult time with mathematics, will be able to enjoy the pleasure of imagination through literary explanations of the history of mathematical imagination.