(dunno if you had anything like that in school, but here you go :P)
It is, but not all equations are solvable (at least with real numbers, which is what is usually used in school).
f.e.: Let's say you're searching for a solution (in this case the root) of the equation
x² - 1 = 0
Obviously the answer is:
<=> x² = 1 <=> x = ±1
(You have two roots. One at -1 and one at +1)
But what about
x² + 1 = 0 ?
The answer would be:
<=> x² = -1 <=> x = ± sqrt(-1)
But sqrt(-1) doesn't exist in the real numbers. That's why "i" was introduced (and the complex numbers), the imaginary unit, with i² = -1.
It doesn't really exist, hence the name, but without it you wouldn't be able to make any calculations in electrical engineering. I don't know if you'll learn any of this in school, in Germany we don't, I've needed to learn it at university.
:[
http://www.cafepress.com/shop133t
and the I or something can never get real
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi
i is imaginary (i² = -1).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_number
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_number
It is, but not all equations are solvable (at least with real numbers, which is what is usually used in school).
f.e.: Let's say you're searching for a solution (in this case the root) of the equation
x² - 1 = 0
Obviously the answer is:
<=> x² = 1 <=> x = ±1
(You have two roots. One at -1 and one at +1)
But what about
x² + 1 = 0 ?
The answer would be:
<=> x² = -1 <=> x = ± sqrt(-1)
But sqrt(-1) doesn't exist in the real numbers. That's why "i" was introduced (and the complex numbers), the imaginary unit, with i² = -1.
It doesn't really exist, hence the name, but without it you wouldn't be able to make any calculations in electrical engineering. I don't know if you'll learn any of this in school, in Germany we don't, I've needed to learn it at university.
go get an education out of that.