Complex numbers use "i" to denote the imaginary unit.
Does anyone know, why Python uses "j" instead?
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Not only Python. I've seen other notations (even in books) that prefer italicized *j* to bolded **i**. – Yaw Boakye Apr 21 '14 at 09:20
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Electrical engineering uses [j for imaginary units](http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2013/04/23/why-j-for-imaginary-unit/) too. Matlab support both `i` and `j`. – Martijn Pieters Apr 21 '14 at 09:22
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4Did you read the Imaginary Unit wiki page which you've specifically linked to in the question? – hjpotter92 Apr 21 '14 at 09:23
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@hjpotter92 Yes. How does it specifically relate to Python? – Ecir Hana Apr 21 '14 at 09:48
4 Answers
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The python complex number standard follows the Engineering standard where a j is used instead of an i to represent the square root of 1.
Also, check this resource for an alternate explanantion.
It states that j is preferred when referring to complex numbers due to i's multiple other uses which might lead to confusion.
sshashank124
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We *don't know this*. Don't just copy my findings from the comments and present them as if Python follows that standard deliberately. – Martijn Pieters Apr 21 '14 at 09:23
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The symbols i, j, and k are used for unit vectors in the directions of the x, y, and z axes respectively. That means that “i” has two different meanings in the real plane, depending on whether you think of it as the vector space spanned by i and j or as complex numbers. But if you use j to represent the imaginary unit, its meaning does not change. Either way it points along the y axis.
Said another way, bold face i and italic i point in different directions But bold face j and italic j both point in the same direction.
Source: http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2013/04/23/why-j-for-imaginary-unit/
ajknzhol
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Complex numbers are a.o. heavily used in electronics for phase computations. An i denotes current there.
Jacques de Hooge
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