What is the number j?












-2














So, I've been hearing that $e$ and $i$ are not the only numbers out there that are represented and known by a single letter in the English alphabet. Apparently, there is also the number $j$. What is the number $j$ and is it irrational or not? I know it has to do with physics, but that's about it.










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  • 1




    I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
    – Eevee Trainer
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49






  • 5




    It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49










  • Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
    – Hugo
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:50






  • 5




    If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
    – achille hui
    Dec 4 '18 at 3:02










  • Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
    – Xavier Stanton
    Dec 5 '18 at 0:54
















-2














So, I've been hearing that $e$ and $i$ are not the only numbers out there that are represented and known by a single letter in the English alphabet. Apparently, there is also the number $j$. What is the number $j$ and is it irrational or not? I know it has to do with physics, but that's about it.










share|cite|improve this question


















  • 1




    I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
    – Eevee Trainer
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49






  • 5




    It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49










  • Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
    – Hugo
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:50






  • 5




    If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
    – achille hui
    Dec 4 '18 at 3:02










  • Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
    – Xavier Stanton
    Dec 5 '18 at 0:54














-2












-2








-2







So, I've been hearing that $e$ and $i$ are not the only numbers out there that are represented and known by a single letter in the English alphabet. Apparently, there is also the number $j$. What is the number $j$ and is it irrational or not? I know it has to do with physics, but that's about it.










share|cite|improve this question













So, I've been hearing that $e$ and $i$ are not the only numbers out there that are represented and known by a single letter in the English alphabet. Apparently, there is also the number $j$. What is the number $j$ and is it irrational or not? I know it has to do with physics, but that's about it.







physics






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share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked Dec 4 '18 at 2:47









Xavier Stanton

319211




319211








  • 1




    I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
    – Eevee Trainer
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49






  • 5




    It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49










  • Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
    – Hugo
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:50






  • 5




    If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
    – achille hui
    Dec 4 '18 at 3:02










  • Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
    – Xavier Stanton
    Dec 5 '18 at 0:54














  • 1




    I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
    – Eevee Trainer
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49






  • 5




    It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
    – T. Bongers
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:49










  • Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
    – Hugo
    Dec 4 '18 at 2:50






  • 5




    If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
    – achille hui
    Dec 4 '18 at 3:02










  • Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
    – Xavier Stanton
    Dec 5 '18 at 0:54








1




1




I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
– Eevee Trainer
Dec 4 '18 at 2:49




I've also seen $j$ used as the constant for the dual number system. It's analogous to the complex number system's $i$ constant: just that $j^2 = 0$.
– Eevee Trainer
Dec 4 '18 at 2:49




5




5




It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
– T. Bongers
Dec 4 '18 at 2:49




It's just another notation for $i$, more frequently used in engineering (also, you could have answered this pretty quickly with a Google search; rather than asking so many random questions, maybe spend some time trying to seek out resources).
– T. Bongers
Dec 4 '18 at 2:49












Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
– Hugo
Dec 4 '18 at 2:50




Actually we never use any alphabet to represent a rational number, although I don't really know what this is.
– Hugo
Dec 4 '18 at 2:50




5




5




If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
– achille hui
Dec 4 '18 at 3:02




If $i,j,k$ appear together, they may refer to the standard imaginary units of quaternions.
– achille hui
Dec 4 '18 at 3:02












Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
– Xavier Stanton
Dec 5 '18 at 0:54




Only because I've seen people say this, but I mean $j$ alone. I know about the quaternions.
– Xavier Stanton
Dec 5 '18 at 0:54










1 Answer
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As stated in the comments $j$ is somtimes used as a substitute for $i$, usually in physics where the letter $i$ is already used ($i$ the intensity of a current for example)



It can also be used as a standard imaginary unit of quaternions. Complex numbers have $i^2 = -1$ and the quaternions have $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$



Lastly $j$ can also represent a complex number such that $j^2+j+1=0$, or $j=e^{frac{2ipi}{3}}$



There probably are more notations but those are the most used and the ones I know






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    As stated in the comments $j$ is somtimes used as a substitute for $i$, usually in physics where the letter $i$ is already used ($i$ the intensity of a current for example)



    It can also be used as a standard imaginary unit of quaternions. Complex numbers have $i^2 = -1$ and the quaternions have $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$



    Lastly $j$ can also represent a complex number such that $j^2+j+1=0$, or $j=e^{frac{2ipi}{3}}$



    There probably are more notations but those are the most used and the ones I know






    share|cite|improve this answer


























      1














      As stated in the comments $j$ is somtimes used as a substitute for $i$, usually in physics where the letter $i$ is already used ($i$ the intensity of a current for example)



      It can also be used as a standard imaginary unit of quaternions. Complex numbers have $i^2 = -1$ and the quaternions have $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$



      Lastly $j$ can also represent a complex number such that $j^2+j+1=0$, or $j=e^{frac{2ipi}{3}}$



      There probably are more notations but those are the most used and the ones I know






      share|cite|improve this answer
























        1












        1








        1






        As stated in the comments $j$ is somtimes used as a substitute for $i$, usually in physics where the letter $i$ is already used ($i$ the intensity of a current for example)



        It can also be used as a standard imaginary unit of quaternions. Complex numbers have $i^2 = -1$ and the quaternions have $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$



        Lastly $j$ can also represent a complex number such that $j^2+j+1=0$, or $j=e^{frac{2ipi}{3}}$



        There probably are more notations but those are the most used and the ones I know






        share|cite|improve this answer












        As stated in the comments $j$ is somtimes used as a substitute for $i$, usually in physics where the letter $i$ is already used ($i$ the intensity of a current for example)



        It can also be used as a standard imaginary unit of quaternions. Complex numbers have $i^2 = -1$ and the quaternions have $i^2=j^2=k^2=ijk=-1$



        Lastly $j$ can also represent a complex number such that $j^2+j+1=0$, or $j=e^{frac{2ipi}{3}}$



        There probably are more notations but those are the most used and the ones I know







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        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Dec 4 '18 at 9:07









        TheD0ubleT

        39218




        39218






























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