- #1
dimsun
- 27
- 0
Only recently I discovered that there is a class of complex numbers named hypercomplex numbers.
Hamilton invented (or discovered) the quaternions in 1843.
i² = j² = k² = ijk = -1
I understand how complex numbers work, but I don't understand how hypercomplex numbers work.
Can someone explain the following:
First, Hamilton tried to expand the two dimensional complex plane (Argand plane) to three dimensions. But he failed to work with tripleds.
Why?
for example, why does i² = j² = ij = -1 not work?
Second, how did he discover that in 4 dimensions he could work with entities called quaternions?
how did he invent i² = j² = k² = ijk = -1
ij = k
jk = i
ki = j
ji = -k
kj = -i
ik = -j
Third, can someone give me an example to work with quaternions? what can you do with them?
Dimsun
Hamilton invented (or discovered) the quaternions in 1843.
i² = j² = k² = ijk = -1
I understand how complex numbers work, but I don't understand how hypercomplex numbers work.
Can someone explain the following:
First, Hamilton tried to expand the two dimensional complex plane (Argand plane) to three dimensions. But he failed to work with tripleds.
Why?
for example, why does i² = j² = ij = -1 not work?
Second, how did he discover that in 4 dimensions he could work with entities called quaternions?
how did he invent i² = j² = k² = ijk = -1
ij = k
jk = i
ki = j
ji = -k
kj = -i
ik = -j
Third, can someone give me an example to work with quaternions? what can you do with them?
Dimsun