[Tutor] complex numbers: j vs. i

[alan.gauld@bt.com]

> I skimmed the Python documentation for a reason why the 
> letter "j" is used to represent the imaginary part of 
> complex numbers 


> Does anybody know why "j" is used?  I'm guessing that either 
> "i" caused a conflict or that the Dutch word for 
> "imaginary" starts with "j".

I think its because in engineering as opposed to math the 
letter 'j' is always used for complex numbers. 
This is (I assume) because 'i' was already defined to 
mean something else in engineering. For example in 
Electrical Engineering the expression

V = 5i

means V is 5 times the instantaneous current.

HTH,

Alan g.